Genesis 5:22 Commentary and Bible Study

We note that Enoch’s life was considerably shorter than his contemporaries, and the reason for this is given by Moses: ‘and he was not; for God took him.’ These mysterious words are explained in Hebrews 11:5-6. Enoch ‘was not’ in the sense that he could no longer be found on earth, because God had taken him to heaven. This phrase deliberately contrasts with what has been repeatedly said about the other descendants of Seth in this chapter. Of each one of them it is said, ‘and he died’, but of Enoch it is said, ‘and he was not; for God took him.’ This clearly teaches that Enoch did not die, that he did not leave this world in the normal way. He was taken from the earth in a unique way, bypassing death and leaving no bodily remains on the earth, for ‘he was not’.Hebrews 11:5 says, ‘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.’ This is a wonderful example of Scripture interpreting Scripture. The writer to the Hebrews brings all his evangelical presuppositions to the task. From the passage he shows that Enoch was taken out of the world by being translated, as he calls it, directly into heaven. Only two men in the Bible enjoyed this privilege – Enoch and Elijah. There can only be one sense in which God could take Enoch and that is that he took him to be with himself forever. God took him because he delighted in him, for no one can have fellowship with God but those who please God, and Enoch could not have walked with God unless he pleased him. Those who please God in this world can be sure that they will continue to enjoy him in heaven. To be exempted from death was a special mark of the favour of God. Death is the last enemy that we all face ever since God warned Adam that in the day that he ate of the forbidden tree he would die (Genesis 2:17). Since he was our covenant head, then in him we all die (Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22). For anyone to be exempted from this universal punishment is a remarkable and exceptional evidence of the favour of God. From this alone we could conclude that Enoch pleased God, but the conclusion is confirmed by the twice repeated statement that Enoch walked with God, which Hebrews takes as equivalent to saying that he pleased God. And bringing evangelical presuppositions to the passage, Hebrews shows that Enoch must also have had faith for without faith it is impossible to please God. This is not true just in some ages or in some parts of the Bible, but everywhere and at all times. It is a universal rule. God has never had any dealings with any man or woman since the beginning of the world who did not have faith, and Hebrews 11:6 shows why faith is so necessary.