Lexical Summary
Sheth: Seth, Sheth
Original Word:שֵׁת
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Sheth
Pronunciation:shayth
Phonetic Spelling:(shayth)
KJV: Seth, Sheth
NASB:Seth, Sheth
Word Origin:[fromH7896 (שִׁיתּ - set)]
1. put, i.e. substituted
2. Sheth, third son of Adam
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Seth, Sheth
Fromshiyth; put, i.e. Substituted; Sheth, third son of Adam -- Seth, Sheth.
see HEBREWshiyth
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
shithDefinitiona son of Adam
NASB TranslationSeth (8), Sheth (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
;
Genesis 4:25; (where explained from v ),
Genesis 4:26;
Genesis 5:3,4,6,7,8;
1 Chronicles 1:1; — In
Numbers 24:17 (poem in J), read probably
tumult (compare
Lamentations 3:47), or (see below ), compare Gray. — II. , see II. .
Topical Lexicon
Identity and Setting in the Primeval NarrativeSeth is introduced after the murder of Abel and the banishment of Cain. Eve testifies: “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel, because Cain killed him” (Genesis 4:25). The verb translated “granted” or “appointed” gives the theological backdrop for the name; Seth is portrayed as God’s provision for the continuation of the godly line.
Restoration of Hope and Worship
Immediately after Seth’s birth, Scripture records the birth of his son Enosh and adds, “At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26). This summary statement links Seth’s line with public, covenantal worship. Whereas Cain’s descendants pioneer city-building and cultural achievements (Genesis 4:17-22), Seth’s descendants are marked first by a renewed orientation toward Yahweh. The mention of corporate calling on the LORD suggests organized, vocal devotion—a contrast to the self-reliant trajectory of Cain’s lineage.
The Genealogy ofGenesis 5
Genesis 5 traces ten generations from Adam to Noah through Seth, presenting a structured record of lifespans and births:
• Seth is born when Adam is 130 years old and lives 912 years (Genesis 5:3-8).
• Each succeeding patriarch is noted with similar precision, highlighting the continuity of life and covenant history through Seth’s line.
The repeated formula “and he had other sons and daughters” underscores that the inspired writer selects a single line for redemptive purposes, not because others did not exist, but because Seth’s line will carry forward the promise ofGenesis 3:15.
Seth in the Chronicler’s Genealogy
1 Chronicles 1:1 opens its genealogies with “Adam, Seth, Enosh,” bypassing Cain altogether. For the Chronicler, whose purpose is to legitimize post-exilic Israel’s lineage and worship, Seth represents the divinely sanctioned ancestry leading to Abraham, Israel, and ultimately the Davidic monarchy.
Presence in the New Testament
Luke traces Messiah’s pedigree back to “Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:38). By including Seth, Luke affirms that Jesus stands in the same appointed line that began with God’s gracious provision after the fall, reinforcing the unity of revelation from Genesis to Gospel.
Contrast with Cain’s Line
Cain’s descendants culminate in a boastful Lamech (Genesis 4:23-24) who magnifies violence; Seth’s line culminates in a righteous Lamech who fathers Noah, the herald of a new creation (Genesis 5:28-29). The inspired structure sets the two families side by side, contrasting rebellion with faith and preparing readers for the flood narrative.
Theological Themes
1. Providence: Seth personifies God’s sovereign replacement of what sin appeared to destroy.
2. Worship: His lineage initiates formal invocation of the divine name, anchoring the doctrine that true worship is preserved by divine initiative.
3. Covenant Continuity: The promises implicit inGenesis 3:15 move forward through Seth, establishing a typological highway to Christ.
4. Life and Death: The refrain “and he died” inGenesis 5 is broken only by Enoch’s translation (Genesis 5:24), hinting that Seth’s line carries the hope of overcoming death.
Ministry Implications
• Legacy: Faithful parents can trust God to raise up a godly seed even in the wake of tragedy.
• Worship Priority: The first hallmark of a redeemed community is public calling on the LORD; ministry that neglects worship forfeits its Seth-like identity.
• Genealogical Confidence: Pastors may draw on Seth’s role to underscore the historicity of early Genesis and the reliability of the biblical record.
• Christ-Centered Teaching: Linking Seth toLuke 3 invites congregations to see Jesus as the consummation of the “appointed” seed, fulfilling ancient hope.
Practical Lessons
1. God’s purposes are never thwarted by human sin.
2. True greatness is measured by devotion to the LORD, not cultural prowess.
3. Generational faithfulness matters; private obedience bears public fruit in future eras.
Through eight brief references, Seth emerges as a pivotal figure: the divinely provided son who carries forward worship, covenant, and ultimately the Messianic promise.
Forms and Transliterations
וּלְשֵׁ֤ת ולשת שֵֽׁת׃ שֵׁ֑ת שֵׁ֔ת שֵׁ֕ת שֵׁ֖ת שֵׁ֗ת שת שת׃ ū·lə·šêṯ ūləšêṯ ulShet
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