Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 4:26
Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Browse this work.
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Genesis4:26
26. And to Seth, to him also there was born a Son; and he called his name Enos , then began men to call upon the Name of the LORD .
Which properly signifies a miserable man, to note the great wickedness and wretchedness of that Generation, which the Hebrew Writers generally observe.
To pray unto God, to Worship God in a more publick and solemn manner: Praying being here put for the whole Worship of God, as Gen. 12. 8. and 26. 25. and in many other places. According to the marginal version the sense is this. Then, when the World was universally corrupt, and had forsaken God and his service, good men grew more valiant and zealous for God, and did more publickly and avowedly own God, and began to distinguish and separate themselves from the ungodly World, and to call themselves and one another by the Name of God, (i. e.) the Sons, Servants, or Worshippers of God, as they are expresly called, and that, as it seems, upon this occasion, Gen. 6. 2. And in this sense this phrase is elsewhere taken, as Isa. 43. 7. and 44. 5. and 65. 1. Some render the place thus, Then began Men to profane the name, (i. e.) the Worship, of the Lord, by Idolatry or Superstition. But this seems neither to agree with the Hebrew phrase, nor to suit with this place, where he speaks of the posterity of Seth, who were the Holy Seed and only Church of God then in the World.
Marginal references: Heb. Enosh.; Or, to call themselves by the name of the Lord.
Matthew Poole and continuators, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, Genesis 4:26. Public domain.
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