Seth
the son in place of Abel
Who was Seth?
- Son of Adam and Eve. He was born after Abel’s death. Genesis 4:25
- Eve said that God had given her another son in place of Abel. Genesis 4:25
- He was the father of Enosh. Luke names him among the ancestors of Jesus. Genesis 4:26; Luke 3:38
- The name
- In Hebrew, “Seth” sounds like “has given”. Eve said that God had given her another son. Genesis 4:25; NAB note on Gn 4, 25-26
What the Bible says
Genesis 4:25
Adam also knew his wife again: and she brought forth a son, and called his name Seth, saying: God hath given me another seed, for Abel whom Cain slew.
Genesis 4:25
Adam also knew his wife again: and she brought forth a son, and called his name Seth, saying: God hath given me another seed, for Abel whom Cain slew.
Genesis 4:26; Luke 3:38
But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos; this man began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
The path of Seth
- Before Jesus. After Abel’s death, Adam and Eve had another son. They named him Seth. Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:3
- Before Jesus. Eve said that God had given her another son in place of Abel, whom Cain had killed. Genesis 4:25
- Before Jesus. Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born. Genesis says that Adam begot him in his likeness, after his image. Genesis 5:3
- With Jesus. At 105, Seth became the father of Enosh. Later he had other sons and daughters. Genesis 5:6-7
- With Jesus. In the time of Enosh, people began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26
- Afterward. Genesis says that Seth lived 912 years, and then he died. Genesis 5:8
- Afterward. The First Book of Chronicles begins its list of families like this: Adam, Seth, Enosh. 1 Chronicles 1:1
- Afterward. Sirach, a book of the Catholic Bible, says that Seth and Shem were honored among men. Sirach 49:16
- Afterward. Luke names him in the list of Jesus’ ancestors, as the son of Adam. Luke 3:38
Words of Seth
The Bible records no words of his.
Not to be confused with
- Shem: Shem is a son of Noah, many generations later. Seth is a son of Adam and Eve. Genesis 4:25; Genesis 6:10
What people ask
Was Seth the third son of Adam and Eve?
He is the third one the Bible names, after Cain and Abel. After Seth, Adam had other sons and daughters. Genesis 4:1-2, 25; Genesis 5:4
Who gave him his name?
The Bible tells it in two ways. In chapter 4 Eve names him; in chapter 5, Adam does. Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:3
Does Jesus descend from Seth or from Cain?
From Seth. Luke counts Jesus’ ancestors backward, and from Seth he goes on to Adam. Luke 3:38
How many years did Seth live?
Genesis says 912 years. Genesis 5:8
How was Seth like Adam?
God created man in his likeness. Genesis says that Adam had Seth in his likeness, after his image. Genesis 5:1-3
How long did Adam live after Seth was born?
Genesis says 800 more years, and that he had other sons and daughters. Genesis 5:4
Little known Enosh, his son’s name, means “man” in Hebrew, like “adam”. A NAB note explains it this way. Genesis 4:26; NAB note on Gn 4, 25-26 In the Torres…
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