Enoch

the one who walked with God

Who was Enoch?

Son of Jared and father of Methuselah. He walked with God. Genesis 5:18, 21, 24
Genesis does not say that he died: it says he was no longer there, because God took him. Genesis 5:24
The Letter to the Hebrews holds him up as an example of faith: he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5

What the Bible says

Genesis 5:18, 21, 24

¹⁸And Jared lived a hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Henoch. ²¹And Henoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Mathusala. ²⁴And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took him.

Genesis 5:24

And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took him.

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Enoch

Before Jesus. He was the son of Jared, from the family of Seth. Genesis 5:6-18
Before Jesus. At 65, Enoch became the father of Methuselah. Genesis 5:21
With Jesus. After Methuselah was born, Enoch lived 300 more years and had other sons and daughters. Genesis 5:22
With Jesus. Enoch walked with God. Genesis 5:24
With Jesus. The Letter of Jude says that Enoch announced that the Lord would come with his holy ones to judge everyone. Jude 1:14-15
Afterward. In all, he lived 365 years. Genesis 5:23
Afterward. Then he was no longer there, because God took him. Genesis 5:24
Afterward. The Letter to the Hebrews says that, by faith, Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death. Hebrews 11:5
Afterward. Sirach says that Enoch pleased God and was taken from this world. Sirach 44:16
Afterward. Luke names him among the ancestors of Jesus. Luke 3:37
Afterward. The First Book of Chronicles names him in the list of families that begins with Adam. 1 Chronicles 1:1-3

Words of Enoch

Genesis records no words of his. The Letter of Jude says that Enoch prophesied the coming of the Lord to judge everyone (Jds 1, 14-15).

What they were like

He walked with God. Genesis 5:24
He pleased God. The Letter to the Hebrews says this was by faith. Hebrews 11:5-6

The greatest thing they did

The Letter to the Hebrews places him among the examples of faith, after Abel and before Noah. Hebrews 11:4-7
Sirach, a book of the Catholic Bible, remembers him among the famous ancestors: God took him. Sirach 44:1, 16

Not to be confused with

Cain had a son named Enoch and founded a city named after Enoch. This Enoch is a different man: the father of Methuselah, from the family of Seth. Genesis 4:17; Genesis 5:18, 21
Noah: Noah, his great-grandson, also walked with God. Noah is the one with the ark. Genesis 5:21, 25, 28-29; Genesis 6:9

What people ask

Did Enoch die?

Genesis does not say so: it says he was no longer there, because God took him. The Letter to the Hebrews says he was taken up so that he would not see death. Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5

What does it mean that he “walked with God”?

The Bible does not explain it. It says the same about Noah. And the Letter to the Hebrews says that Enoch pleased God. Genesis 5:24; Genesis 6:9; Hebrews 11:5

What does the Letter of Jude say about him?

It says that Enoch was the seventh from Adam, and that he prophesied the coming of the Lord with his holy ones. Jude 1:14

Is Enoch in the family of Jesus?

Yes. Luke names him in the list of Jesus’ ancestors. Luke 3:37

Is there a Book of Enoch in the Bible?

No. The Letter of Jude takes some words from an ancient book bearing his name, which is not part of the Bible. A NAB note explains it this way. Jude 1:14-15; NAB note on Jds 1, 14-15

Why does the Bible hold up Enoch as an example?

Because he walked with God and pleased him. Sirach says that he pleased God and that God took him. Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; Sirach 44:16

Little known The Letter of Jude says that Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Jude 1:14 A NAB note explains that “God took him” means that he did not die,…

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Who Enoch is connected to

Methuselah · father and son
Noah · great-grandfather and great-grandson
Jesus · ancestor of Jesus · witness of faith

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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