from חָנַךְ; initiated; Chanok, an antediluvian patriach; Enoch.
Transliteration:Chănôwk
Pronunciation:khan-oke'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name Chănôwk (חֲנוֹךְ, `{{H2585}}`) is derived from the verbal root chānak (חָנַךְ, `{{H2596}}`), which carries the core meaning of "to train," "to dedicate," or "to initiate." This root is used in contexts ranging from the training of a child (e.g., [[Proverbs 22:6]]) to the dedication of a house (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 20:5]]) or the altar (e.g., [[Numbers 7:10]]). Thus, the name Chănôwk inherently suggests a person who is "initiated," "dedicated," "trained," or "consecrated." This etymological connection points to a life set apart or instructed, hinting at a profound relationship with a higher purpose or divine instruction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Chănôwk (Enoch) appears in the Old Testament in reference to several individuals, but two figures are most prominent:
1. **Enoch, son of Cain:** Mentioned in [[Genesis 4:17]], Cain named his first city after his son Enoch. This Enoch's lineage is marked by a departure from God's ways, contrasting sharply with the subsequent figure.
2. **Enoch, the antediluvian patriarch:** This is the most significant biblical figure bearing the name. He is introduced in the genealogical line from Adam to Noah in [[Genesis 5:18-24]]. He is the seventh in this line, a number often associated with completion or divine perfection. The striking phrase "Enoch walked with God" appears twice ([[Genesis 5:22]], [[Genesis 5:24]]), culminating in the unique statement that "God took him" ([[Genesis 5:24]]), implying he did not experience death. This brief but profound account highlights his exceptional piety in a pre-Flood world increasingly marked by corruption.
* His significance is further elaborated in the New Testament. [[Luke 3:37]] includes him in Jesus's genealogy. [[Hebrews 11:5]] explicitly states, "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken he was pleasing to God." This verse underscores that his translation was an act of divine favor in response to his faith.
* [[Jude 1:14-15]] attributes a prophecy to Enoch, describing him as "the seventh from Adam," who foretold the Lord's coming with His holy myriads to execute judgment. This suggests Enoch's role as an early prophet.
Other occurrences include:
* A son of Midian, son of Abraham and Keturah ([[Genesis 25:4]], [[1 Chronicles 1:33]]).
* A son of Reuben, and head of a family ([[Genesis 46:9]], [[Exodus 6:14]], [[Numbers 26:5]], [[1 Chronicles 5:3]]).
The primary focus of a word study on Chănôwk (`{{H2585}}`) invariably rests on the antediluvian patriarch due to the profound theological implications of his life and translation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of Chănôwk (`{{H2585}}`) is deeply intertwined with its root chānak (חָנַךְ, `{{H2596}}`), which denotes training, dedication, or initiation. This connection highlights the idea of a life consecrated or set apart.
Key concepts related to Enoch's biblical narrative include:
* **"Walking with God"**: This phrase (הִתְהַלֵּךְ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים) signifies a deep, continuous, and intimate fellowship with God, characterized by obedience, righteousness, and a life lived in alignment with divine will. This concept is also applied to Noah ([[Genesis 6:9]]).
* **Faith (πίστις, `{{G4102}}`)**: As emphasized in [[Hebrews 11:5]], Enoch's life was a testament to faith, by which he pleased God. His translation is presented as a direct consequence and reward of this faith.
* **Translation/Being Taken (לָקַח, `{{H3947}}` / μετατίθημι, `{{G3346}}`)**: The unique manner of Enoch's departure from earthly life, without experiencing death, is a central aspect of his story. This divine act of "taking" him sets him apart and foreshadows future divine interventions.
* **Prophecy (προφητεία, `{{G4394}}`)**: The citation in Jude reveals Enoch as an early prophet, speaking of future judgment, underscoring God's consistent revelation to humanity from the earliest times.
* **Righteousness (צֶדֶק, `{{H6664}}` / δικαιοσύνη, `{{G1343}}`)**: While not explicitly stated with this term for Enoch, his "walking with God" implies a life of righteousness and blamelessness in contrast to the prevailing wickedness of his era.
### Theological Significance
The patriarch Enoch holds profound theological significance within the biblical narrative:
1. **Exemplar of Faith and Divine Fellowship:** Enoch's "walking with God" represents the pinnacle of human-divine relationship in the pre-Flood world. He serves as a powerful witness that even amidst increasing human depravity, it was possible to live a life of deep devotion and intimacy with the Creator. His translation by God is the ultimate affirmation of God's pleasure in his faith ([[Hebrews 11:5]]).
2. **Victory Over Death:** Enoch's unique translation without experiencing physical death provides a powerful, early biblical precedent for God's power over death. It foreshadows the bodily resurrection and translation of believers, offering a glimpse of eternal life and immediate fellowship with God's presence. In this sense, he anticipates the ultimate victory over death achieved by Christ.
3. **Divine Sovereignty and Intervention:** God's direct act of "taking" Enoch demonstrates His active involvement in human history and His sovereign power to intervene in the natural order. It shows that God honors and rewards those who faithfully walk with Him.
4. **Early Prophetic Voice:** The prophecy attributed to Enoch in [[Jude 1:14-15]] establishes him as a significant prophetic figure, indicating that God's warnings about judgment and His ultimate triumph over evil were proclaimed from the earliest epochs of human history. This highlights the continuity of divine revelation and the certainty of future accountability.
5. **Contrast to Cain's Line:** The two Enochs in Genesis stand in stark contrast: Cain's son representing human self-sufficiency and the establishment of an earthly city, while the patriarch Enoch represents devotion to God and a heavenly destiny. This contrast subtly underscores the two paths of humanity: one leading away from God, the other into deeper communion with Him.
### Summary
Chănôwk (חֲנוֹךְ, `{{H2585}}`), meaning "initiated" or "dedicated," is most notably the name of the antediluvian patriarch whose life is briefly but profoundly described in [[Genesis 5]]. He is distinguished by his consistent "walking with God" and his unique translation by God, escaping physical death. This event is highlighted in [[Hebrews 11:5]] as a testament to his faith, by which he "pleased God." Enoch serves as a powerful biblical example of deep divine fellowship, unwavering faith, and God's sovereign power over death. His translation prefigures the hope of resurrection and the ultimate triumph over mortality for believers. Furthermore, the book of Jude reveals him as an early prophet, foretelling divine judgment. Thus, Enoch stands as a significant figure in salvation history, embodying piety in a corrupt world and foreshadowing the ultimate destiny of those who walk faithfully with God.
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