Lexical Summary
enosh: Man, mankind, mortal
Original Word:אֱנוֹשׁ
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:enowsh
Pronunciation:eh-NOHSH
Phonetic Spelling:(en-oshe')
KJV: another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word
NASB:man, men, man's, life, mankind, mortal, mortal man
Word Origin:[fromH605 (אָנַשׁ - incurable)]
1. (properly) a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified H0120)
2. (hence) a man in general (singly or collectively)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
another, bloodthirsty, certain, divers, fellow, in the flower of their age
From'anash; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified'adam); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively) -- another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some (X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare'iysh.
see HEBREW'anash
see HEBREW'adam
see HEBREW'iysh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionman, mankind
NASB Translationadvisers* (2), friends* (1), life (1), man (26), man's (4), mankind (1), men (6), mortal (1), mortal man (1), ordinary (1), scoffers* (1), scorners* (1), soldiers* (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Job 15:14 , mostly in poetry (18 t. Job, 13 t. Psalms, etc.) (Arabic
(collective), Aramaic ,
(collective), Nabataean Palmyrene Sabean DHM
ZMG 1883, 330, also Arabic
Assyrian
nišu,
people, & compare
tenišêtu, humanity, human race, see COT
Gloss sub & & Hpt
KAT 2.497) — absolute
Isaiah 8:1 +; construct
Jeremiah 20:10; —
.Job 5:17;Job 13:9;Psalm 55:14, compareIsaiah 13:12 ("" )Isaiah 56:2 ("" ;Jeremiah 20:10man of my peace, i.e. my friend.
.menIsaiah 24:6;Isaiah 33:8;Isaiah 51:7;Psalm 66:12; = men in General; ordinary menPsalm 73:5 compare i.e. a common stylusIsaiah 8:1 (seeDeuteronomy 3:11).
man, mankindDeuteronomy 32:26;Job 7:1;Job 14:19;Job 28:4,13;Job 32:8;Job 33:26;Job 36:25 ("" &Job 36:24)Psalm 56:2; especially opposed to GodJob 4:17 ("" )Job 7:17;Job 9:2;Job 10:4,5;Job 15:14;Job 25:4;Job 33:12; 2Chron 14:10;Psalm 8:5 ("" soIsaiah 51:12;Psalm 9:20;Psalm 9:21,Psalm 90:3 ("" ;Psalm 103:15;Psalm 144:3 ("" ; compareJob 25:6;Psalm 10:18;Isaiah 13:7 comparePsalm 104:15 (twice in verse).
I. (√ of following; compare Biblical Hebrew II. , ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe Hebrew noun אֱנוֹשׁ (Strong’s 582) appears about 222 times in the Old Testament and consistently accents the frailty, mortality, and ethical limitation of humanity. While אָדָם speaks of humanity’s origin and אִישׁ often stresses individuality or social standing, אֱנוֹשׁ highlights humankind’s weakness in contrast to God’s power and permanence.
Key Characteristics and Themes
• Mortal Frailty
“LORD, what is man (enosh) that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). The word is regularly paired with imagery of grass (Psalm 103:15), breath (Psalm 144:4), and dust, driving home human transience.
• Universality
It gathers all people—kings and peasants, Israelite and Gentile—under one banner of dependence on God (Psalm 9:19;Isaiah 24:6).
• Moral Inadequacy
“What is man (enosh), that he should be pure?” (Job 15:14). The term often occurs in contexts exposing sin, deceit, and inability to justify oneself before the holy God (Job 25:4-6;Jeremiah 17:5-9).
• Divine Contrast
“God is not a man (enosh), that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). The word sets up sharp contrasts between mutable humanity and the immutable LORD, underscoring the reliability of divine covenant promises.
Canonical Distribution
Pentateuch – Sparse usage (e.g.,Numbers 23:19) but strategically located to contrast divine integrity with human weakness.
Historical Books – Occasional references that remind rulers of their mortality (e.g.,2 Samuel 7:14-15, echoing the theme even when the noun is absent).
Wisdom Literature – Highest density; Job alone uses אֱנוֹשׁ seventeen times. Psalms employ it devotionally (Psalm 8; 56; 144), Proverbs ethically (Proverbs 12:8; 28:26).
Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the Minor Prophets invoke the term in oracles of judgment and restoration (Isaiah 13:11-12;Jeremiah 17:5;Micah 7:2).
Enosh and Worship
Recognition of human frailty fosters humility and trust. “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man (enosh) do to me?” (Psalm 56:4). True worship acknowledges the worshiper’s weakness and God’s sufficiency (Psalm 146:3-5).
Covenantal Significance
Because God is “not a man” (Numbers 23:19), His covenants rest on divine faithfulness, not human reliability. This contrast undergirds the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, preparing for the new covenant where God supplies the righteousness humanity lacks (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions
Isaiah 13:12 predicts a day when humanity will be scarcer than gold, a picture of sweeping judgment. Conversely,Daniel 7:13 (Aramaic bar enash, “son of man”) presents a glorified human figure invested with everlasting dominion, foreshadowing the Messiah’s incarnation and exaltation.
Christological Fulfillment
Psalm 8, which marvels that God remembers “man (enosh),” is applied to Jesus Christ inHebrews 2:6-9. The Son of God enters the sphere of אֱנוֹשׁ, shares our weakness, and through death and resurrection secures dominion for redeemed humanity. Thus human frailty becomes the very arena of divine triumph.
Ministry Implications
1. Humility in Leadership – Pastors and elders, themselves אֱנוֹשׁ, lead as servants (Psalm 9:20).
2. Comfort in Suffering – God “remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14); the gospel meets people at their deepest weakness.
3. Urgency in Evangelism – “All flesh is grass” (Isaiah 40:6-8) presses believers to proclaim the imperishable word.
4. Ethical Vigilance – The deceitful human heart (Jeremiah 17:9) necessitates continual dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Summary
Through the lens of אֱנוֹשׁ Scripture teaches that humanity is finite, sinful, and utterly dependent on God. This recognition humbles the proud, steadies the fearful, and magnifies the grace of the One who became the ultimate “Son of Man” to rescue mortals and bring many sons to glory.
Forms and Transliterations
אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ אֱ֭נוֹשׁ אֱנ֑וֹשׁ אֱנ֔וֹשׁ אֱנ֖וֹשׁ אֱנ֗וֹשׁ אֱנ֣וֹשׁ אֱנ֥וֹשׁ אֱנֽוֹשׁ׃ אֲ֠נָשִׁים אֲנָשִׁ֑ים אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲנָשִׁ֕ים אֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲנָשִׁ֛ים אֲנָשִׁ֜ים אֲנָשִׁ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֤ים אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲנָשִׁ֨ים אֲנָשִׁים֙ אֲנָשֵׁ֗ינוּ אֲנָשָׁ֔יו אִ֔ישׁ אִ֖ישׁ אִ֗ישׁ אִ֛ישׁ אִ֜ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ אִ֤ישׁ אִ֥ישׁ אִ֨ישׁ אִישִׁ֔י אִישִׁ֥ים אִישָׁ֖הּ אִישׁ֙ אִישׁ־ אַנְשֵֽׁי־ אַנְשֵׁ֖י אַנְשֵׁ֣י אַנְשֵׁ֤י אַנְשֵׁ֥י אַנְשֵׁ֧י אַנְשֵׁ֨י אַנְשֵׁי־ אַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ן איש איש־ אישה אישי אישים אנוש אנוש׃ אנשי אנשי־ אנשיהן אנשיו אנשים אנשינו בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣י בֶאֱנ֑וֹשׁ בָאִ֤ישׁ באיש באנוש באנשי הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֑ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֞ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ הָאֲנָשִׁים֩ הָאִ֛ישׁ הָאִ֨ישׁ האיש האנשים וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י וְאַנְשֵׁ֤י וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י וְאַנְשֵׁי־ וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ וְהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֙ וְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֑יו וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֗יו וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ וַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים וַאֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ וּֽמֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י ואנשי ואנשי־ ואנשיהם׃ ואנשיו ואנשיו׃ ואנשים והאנשים ומאנשי לְאִ֖ישׁ לְאִ֣ישׁ לְאִישָׁ֛הּ לְאִישׁ֙ לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י לֶ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁ לֶאֱנ֣וֹשׁ לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו לָאִ֖ישׁ לאיש לאישה לאנוש לאנשי לאנשיו לאנשים מֵאֱנ֖וֹשׁ מֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁ מֵאֱנֽוֹשׁ׃ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י מאנוש מאנוש׃ מאנשי ’ă·nā·šāw ’ă·nā·šê·nū ’ă·nā·šîm ’an·šê ’an·šê- ’an·šê·hen ’ănāšāw ’ănāšênū ’ănāšîm ’anšê ’anšê- ’anšêhen ’ĕ·nō·wōš ’ĕnōwōš ’î·šāh ’î·šî ’î·šîm ’îš ’îš- ’îšāh ’îšî ’îšîm anaShav anaSheinu anaShim anShei ansheiHen ḇā’îš ḇā·’îš bə’anšê ḇe’ĕnōwōš bə·’an·šê ḇe·’ĕ·nō·wōš beanShei eNoosh hā’ănāšîm hā’îš hā·’ă·nā·šîm hā·’îš haanaShim haIsh ish iShah iShi iShim la’ănāšāw la’ănāšîm lā’îš la·’ă·nā·šāw la·’ă·nā·šîm lā·’îš laanaShav laanaShim laIsh lə’anšê le’ĕnōwōš lə’îš lə’îšāh lə·’an·šê le·’ĕ·nō·wōš lə·’î·šāh lə·’îš leanShei leeNoosh leIsh leiShah mê’anšê mê’ĕnōwōš mê·’an·šê mê·’ĕ·nō·wōš meanShei meeNoosh ū·mê·’an·šê ūmê’anšê umeanShei vaanaShav vaanaShim vaIsh veanShei veansheiHem veeNoosh vehaanaShim wa’ănāšāw wa’ănāšîm wa·’ă·nā·šāw wa·’ă·nā·šîm wə’anšê wə’anšê- wə’anšêhem wə·’an·šê wə·’an·šê- wə·’an·šê·hem wə·hā·’ă·nā·šîm wəhā’ănāšîm
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