Enoch (son of Cain)

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Enoch is the son of Cain and grandson of Adam in the Old Testament .

This Enoch is not to be confused with Enoch , the descendant of Set ( Gen 5,18  EU ).

etymology

The origin of the personal name חֲנוֹךְ ḥǎnôkh , German 'Henoch' (in Gen 25.4  EU חֲנֹךְ ḥǎnokh ) is insecure. Hans Rechenmacher derives the name from the Canaanite ḫanāku "follower" and assumes that it is the short form of a genitive combination consisting of a basic word and a qualifier. The defining word and at the same time theophoric element had failed, the basic word "follower" was still left. The name therefore means "follower (of God)". In terms of content, theעֶבֶד 'ævæd , German ' servant ' compare formed names (e.g.עַבְדִּיאֵל 'avdî'el , German ' servant of God ' ). Martin Noth, on the other hand, starts from the root ḤNK , compares ḥunukun in Arabic and translates the name as “clever, learned”. Finally, a derivation of the name from the root חנך ḥnk “ initiate ” comes into consideration, so that the name could be translated as “initiator / founder”.

The Septuagint gives the name as Ενωχ Enōch , the Vulgate as Enoch and the Samaritan Pentateuch as ' Īnok .

Biblical report

According to Gen 4.17  EU , Enoch is the firstborn son of Cain. His mother is a woman who married Cain in the Land of Nod. A city that his father Cain founded is named after Enoch. According to Gen 4.18  EU , Enoch is the father of Irad.

Traditional interpretation

If Adam and Eve are the first humans, the question arises, who then was Cain married and who is the mother of Enoch? The answer to this question is that Adam and Eve would have had daughters after Cain, Abel and Set, so Cain would have married his own sister. This is how it is presented in the Book of Jubilees 4,1.9, where the mother of Enoch is named Awan.

Historical-critical interpretation

The person of Enoch is referred to in non-priestly written tradition as the son of Cain, while in the priestly scriptures he appears in the seventh place in the genealogy from Seth to Noah . It is assumed that the one person of Enoch was classified in different places in the genealogy.

The Enoch tradition is originally independent of the story of Adam and Eve. Hence, it does not presuppose a very small number of people on earth, but a number of peoples. This is how Cain can marry a woman from another people. The fact that Cain is leaving for the land of Nod in Gen 4.16  EU already presupposes that a people lives there with whom he can settle.

literature

Wikisource: Book of anniversaries in translation by Paul Rießler  - sources and full texts