Hebrews 11:5

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

By faith {G4102} Enoch {G1802} was translated {G3346} that he should {G1492} not {G3361} see {G1492} death {G2288}; and {G2532} was {G2147} not {G3756} found {G2147}, because {G1360} God {G2316} had translated {G3346} him {G846}: for {G1063} before {G4253} his {G846} translation {G3331} he had this testimony {G3140}, that he pleased {G2100} God {G2316}.

Complete Jewish Bible

By trusting, Hanokh was taken away from this life without seeing death — “He was not to be found, because God took him away” — for he has been attested as having been, prior to being taken away, well pleasing to God.

Berean Standard Bible

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

American Standard Version

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 11:5 presents Enoch as a prime example of faith, highlighting his unique translation by God, which spared him from experiencing death. This extraordinary divine act was a direct consequence of his faithful walk, underscoring the foundational truth that a life lived in active trust and obedience to God is profoundly pleasing to Him and results in His divine favor and intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal component of Hebrews 11, famously known as the "Hall of Faith" or "Faith's Roll Call." The author, building on the assertion in [Hebrews 10:38-39](/hebrews/10-38-39 "Hebrews 10:38-39 - The Just Live by Faith") that "the just shall live by faith," systematically presents a series of Old Testament figures who exemplified this principle. Enoch's inclusion immediately follows the mention of Abel, establishing a chronological progression of faithful witnesses. His story serves as a concrete illustration of the abstract definition of faith provided in [Hebrews 11:1-3](/hebrews/11-1-3 "Hebrews 11:1-3 - The Nature of Faith"), particularly the idea that faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." The subsequent verse, [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential to Please God"), directly expounds on the theological implication of Enoch's life, stating that "without faith it is impossible to please God," thus cementing Enoch's narrative as a foundational proof text for this critical theological concept.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Enoch is an antediluvian patriarch, one of the earliest figures in biblical history, mentioned briefly in [Genesis 5:21-24](/genesis/5-21-24 "Genesis 5:21-24 - Enoch's Walk with God"). Living in a time before the Mosaic Law, before the establishment of Israel, and before the Flood, Enoch's walk with God highlights that the principle of faith predates formal religious institutions and covenants. His unique departure from the earth—being "taken" by God without experiencing death—was an unprecedented event, setting him apart from all his contemporaries. This would have been particularly striking in ancient cultures, where death was an undeniable and universal reality, often viewed with dread. The Genesis account's brevity regarding Enoch's translation likely fueled later Jewish traditions and apocryphal writings (like the Book of Enoch), which sought to elaborate on his mysterious departure, underscoring the profound impact of his unusual life and end.

* **Key Themes:** Enoch's narrative in [Hebrews 11:5](/hebrews/11-5 "Hebrews 11:5 - Enoch's Faith and Translation") significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Hebrews and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Faith as the Means of Pleasing God**. Enoch's life serves as a concrete demonstration that active trust in God is the prerequisite for divine favor, a concept explicitly articulated in [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential to Please God"). Secondly, it introduces the theme of **Divine Preservation and Transcendence of Death**. Enoch's translation foreshadows the ultimate victory over death promised to believers, pointing towards resurrection and eternal life, themes central to the Christian hope. Thirdly, it highlights **God's Sovereignty and Unique Intervention**, showcasing His ability to act outside conventional human experience to honor those who walk faithfully with Him. Finally, Enoch's story, along with others in [Hebrews 11](/hebrews/11 "Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith"), contributes to the theme of **The Cloud of Witnesses**, encouraging believers to persevere in their own faith journey by looking to those who have gone before.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Faith (Greek, _pístis'_):** (G4102) This term signifies persuasion, credence, or moral conviction, particularly reliance upon Christ for salvation and constancy in such profession. In Enoch's context, it refers to his deep trust and unwavering obedience to God, which characterized his entire life and was the very means by which he "pleased God." It's not merely intellectual assent but an active, living trust that shaped his actions and relationship with the divine.
* **Translated (Greek, _metatíthēmi'_):** (G3346) Derived from _metá_ (with, among, after) and _títhēmi_ (to put, place), this word means to transfer, carry over, or remove from one place to another. In Enoch's case, it denotes a unique, miraculous divine act of transporting him from the earthly realm directly into God's presence, bypassing the experience of physical death. It implies a change of state and location initiated by God.
* **Pleased (Greek, _euarestéō'_):** (G2100) From _euárestos_ (well-pleasing), this verb means to gratify entirely or to be well-pleasing. It emphasizes the complete satisfaction and approval God had for Enoch's life. This "pleasing" was not based on ritualistic observance but on the fundamental orientation of Enoch's heart and life towards God, enabled and characterized by his faith.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;":** This opening clause immediately establishes faith as the instrumental cause of Enoch's extraordinary experience. His "translation" (a divine act of transfer from earth to God's presence) was a direct consequence of his faithful walk. The phrase "that he should not see death" emphasizes the miraculous nature of this event, highlighting God's power to exempt Enoch from the universal human experience of mortality, a privilege granted due to his unique relationship with God through faith.
* **"and was not found, because God had translated him:":** This part of the verse provides further detail and confirmation of Enoch's departure. The phrase "was not found" implies a search or an absence noted by others, reinforcing the mysterious and sudden nature of his removal. The reason for his absence is explicitly stated: "because God had translated him." This reiterates that his disappearance was not accidental or natural but a deliberate, sovereign act of God, directly linking his translation to divine initiative and purpose.
* **"for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.":** This final clause provides the theological justification and the core message of Enoch's story within the "Hall of Faith." The conjunction "for" (G1063, _gár_) indicates a reason or explanation. Before God translated him, Enoch had a "testimony" (G3140, _martyréō_) or a witness concerning his character. This testimony was that "he pleased God." This is the crucial point: Enoch's translation was not arbitrary but a divine commendation and reward for a life that was entirely agreeable and satisfying to God, a life characterized by faith.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several literary devices to convey the significance of Enoch's story. **Repetition** of the word "translated" (Greek _metatíthēmi_ and _metáthesis_) three times within the verse powerfully emphasizes the unique and miraculous nature of Enoch's departure, ensuring the reader grasps the extraordinary divine intervention. This repetition also creates a sense of **Narrative Summary**, condensing the Genesis account into a concise statement that highlights the key action and its divine agent. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Cause and Effect** by explicitly linking Enoch's faith ("By faith Enoch...") to his translation and the testimony that he "pleased God." This structure underscores the chapter's overarching argument that faith is the prerequisite for divine favor and action. The phrasing "that he should not see death" also serves as a form of **Euphemism** or **Understatement**, subtly pointing to the profound triumph over mortality without explicitly detailing the mechanics of his translation, thereby maintaining a sense of awe and mystery around the event.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Enoch's translation stands as a profound theological statement about the nature of faith and God's response to it. His story illustrates that faith is not merely intellectual assent but an active, living relationship with God that brings divine pleasure and, at times, extraordinary divine intervention. It demonstrates that God rewards those who diligently seek and obey Him, even to the point of transcending natural limitations like death. This unique event also foreshadows the ultimate hope of believers: the promise of eternal life and the resurrection, where death will be swallowed up in victory. Enoch's life, though brief in biblical description, serves as an enduring testament to the power of a faith-filled walk that finds complete favor in the eyes of God.

* [Genesis 5:24](/genesis/5-24 "Genesis 5:24 - Enoch Walked with God")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Without Faith It Is Impossible to Please God")
* [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus from the Dead")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Enoch's story, though unique in its outcome, offers a timeless and universally applicable principle for believers today. While we do not anticipate a physical translation from death, his life serves as a powerful reminder that our daily walk of faith is what truly pleases God. It's not about grand gestures or public displays, but the consistent, quiet, and unwavering trust in God's character and promises that defines a pleasing life. This involves living with an awareness of God's presence, striving for obedience to His Word, and maintaining a heart of worship and gratitude. When we live by faith, we align our desires with His, and our lives become a testimony to His goodness and faithfulness. The "testimony" Enoch received—that he pleased God—is the ultimate commendation we can strive for, knowing that our faithful walk brings joy to the heart of our heavenly Father, even if our "translation" comes through the valley of the shadow of death.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does it mean for my daily life to "walk with God" as Enoch did, and how can I cultivate a deeper, more consistent walk of faith?**
* **In what areas of my life am I currently struggling to live by faith, and what steps can I take to trust God more fully in those areas?**
* **Considering that Enoch's faith pleased God, how does my understanding of God's expectations for me change or deepen?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of Enoch being "translated" rather than dying?**

Answer: Enoch's translation (G3346, _metatíthēmi_) is highly significant because it demonstrates God's sovereign power over death and His unique favor upon a person who lived a life of exceptional faith. In a world where death was the universal consequence of sin ([Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Romans 5:12 - Sin Entered the World Through One Man")), Enoch's exemption from death highlights a divine act of preservation and reward. It underscores that God can and does intervene supernaturally in the lives of His faithful, offering a glimpse of a reality beyond the curse of mortality. This event, shared only by Elijah in the Old Testament ([2 Kings 2:11](/2_kings/2-11 "2 Kings 2:11 - Elijah Taken Up to Heaven")), serves as a powerful testament to the value God places on a life lived in intimate fellowship and pleasing obedience to Him. It also prefigures the ultimate victory over death achieved through Christ, and the future hope of resurrection and glorification for all believers.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Enoch's translation by faith, sparing him from death because he pleased God, serves as a profound Old Testament type pointing directly to Jesus Christ. While Enoch was translated *from* death, Christ was translated *through* death to resurrection and glorification, thereby conquering death for all who believe. Enoch's pleasing God by faith foreshadows Christ, who perfectly pleased the Father in every aspect of His life, ministry, and sacrificial death ([Matthew 3:17](/matthew/3-17 "Matthew 3:17 - God's Approval of Jesus") and [John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). The "testimony" Enoch received that he pleased God is fully realized in Jesus, the ultimate Son in whom the Father is well pleased. Furthermore, Enoch's translation without seeing death points to the ultimate hope offered through Christ: not merely a physical translation, but a spiritual translation from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness to Light")), and the promise of eternal life where death has no sting ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1_corinthians/15-54-57 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death")). Through faith in Christ, believers are united with Him in His death and resurrection, experiencing a spiritual translation from death to life, and awaiting the future bodily resurrection where they too will ultimately "not see death" in its final, eternal sense ([John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Passed from Death to Life")). Enoch's unique experience is thus a beautiful, early biblical echo of the far greater and universal redemption accomplished by the Lamb of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 5:21

¶ And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

Genesis 5:24

And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.

Jude 1:14

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

2 Kings 2:11

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Psalms 89:48

What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

Revelation 11:9

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.