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Genesis 5:21
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

he was not.

Genesis 37:30
And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The childis not; and I, whither shall I go?

Genesis 42:36
And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereavedof my children: Josephis not, and Simeonis not, and ye will take Benjaminaway: all these things are against me.

Jeremiah 31:15
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation,and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because theywere not.

for.

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.

Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Hebrews 11:5,6
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…

and then he was no more
This phrase suggests a sudden and mysterious departure from the earthly realm. Unlike the other patriarchs listed inGenesis 5, whose deaths are recorded with the phrase "and he died," Enoch's departure is unique. The absence of a death record implies that Enoch did not experience death in the traditional sense. This phrase has intrigued scholars and theologians, leading to various interpretations about the nature of Enoch's departure. It highlights the extraordinary nature of Enoch's life and relationship with God.

because God had taken him away
This phrase provides the reason for Enoch's disappearance, attributing it directly to God's action. The Hebrew word used here for "taken" can also mean "to receive" or "to carry away," suggesting a divine intervention. This event is seen as a precursor to the concept of the rapture, where believers are taken up by God, as described in1 Thessalonians 4:17. Enoch's translation to heaven without experiencing death is a type of Christ's ascension and a foreshadowing of the believer's hope of eternal life. This phrase is further explained inHebrews 11:5, which states that Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, emphasizing his faith and God's approval.

-Genesis 5:24 opens with a picture of steady, intimate fellowship: “Enoch walked with God…”

- Scripture shows this “walk” is a lived-out relationship, not occasional moments:

•Genesis 6:9 notes, “Noah walked with God,” tying the phrase to a lifestyle of righteousness amid a corrupt world.

•Micah 6:8 calls every believer to “walk humbly with your God,” underscoring humility, justice, and mercy as the natural steps of that walk.

•Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?” Agreement with God’s direction is essential.

•Hebrews 11:5–6 adds the faith dimension: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death… for before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God.”

- In practical terms, walking with God means:

• Daily communion—consistent prayer and listening.

• Moral alignment—choosing God’s ways over cultural drift (Psalm 1:1).

• Spiritual dependence—“Walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) rather than by self-effort.

- The verse assures us this is not an unattainable ideal; ordinary believers like Enoch, Noah, and countless others have done it.

- The narrative continues, “…and then he was no more….” Enoch’s physical presence abruptly ended.

• There is no record of sickness, decline, or burial.

• The phrase underlines sudden disappearance, echoed later when Elijah was whisked away (2 Kings 2:11).

-Hebrews 11:5 explains, “he could not be found,” confirming a literal search that yielded nothing.

- This absence highlights:

• The temporary nature of earthly life.

• God’s sovereignty over time and mortality—He can interrupt the normal cycle whenever He chooses.

• A foreshadowing of future events where believers will also suddenly be absent from earth (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

- Scripture gives the reason: “…because God had taken him away.” The initiative is entirely God’s.

• The same verb appears of Elijah; in both cases God personally relocates His servant.

•Hebrews 11:5 affirms, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death,” underscoring deathless transfer.

- What this reveals about God:

• He rewards faith—Enoch’s fellowship was met with an extraordinary gift.

• He confirms hope—John 14:3 promises Christ will “welcome you into My presence.” Enoch’s experience previews that home-coming.

• He demonstrates future glory—1 Corinthians 15:51–52 points to a generation that “will not all sleep, but… will all be changed,” reinforcing the reality of bodily translation.

- For believers today, Enoch’s translation:

• Strengthens confidence that life continues unbroken in God’s presence (Philippians 1:23).

• Illustrates that intimacy with God now leads to immediate fellowship with Him forever.

• Encourages vigilance and readiness, knowing He can call us to Himself at any moment.

Genesis 5:24 records far more than a genealogical footnote. It shows a man who cultivated daily fellowship with God, disappeared from earthly view without experiencing death, and entered the Lord’s presence by divine action. Enoch’s story testifies that walking closely with God is possible, pleasing to Him, and ultimately rewarded with an unbroken, eternal communion.

God took him.--Instead of the mournful refrainand he died,coming like a surprise at the end of each of these protracted lives, we have here an early removal into another world, suggesting already that long life was not the highest form of blessing; and this removal is without pain, decay, or death into the immediate presence of God. Thus one of Adam's posterity after the fall succeeded in doing, though, doubtless, not without special help and blessing from the Almighty, that wherein Adam in Paradise had failed. We learn, too, fromJude 1:14-15, that Enoch's was a removal from prevailing evil to happiness secured. Already, probably, the intermarriages between the Cainites and Sethites had begun and with it the corruption of mankind. Philippson, while regarding the phrase "God took him" as a euphemism for an early death, yet finds in it an indication of there being another life besides this upon earth. We may further add that Enoch's translation took place about the middle of the antediluvian period, and that his age was 365, the number of the days of the year. As, however, the Hebrew year consisted of only 354 days, and the Chaldean of 360, the conclusion that Enoch was a solar deity has no solid foundation to rest upon. But see Note onGenesis 8:14.

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