Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking thing here is that Enoch's "testimony" wasn't a public declaration, but rather the fact of his life and his extraordinary end, which Scripture itself recorded as evidence that he had pleased God. This shows us that God’s testimony about us can be found not just in what we say, but in the way we live and the way God honors us.
This passage is part of a larger argument in Hebrews about the nature of faith, showcasing Old Testament figures who lived by it. It follows the example of Abel and Noah, emphasizing how faith bridges the gap between humanity and God. Enoch's unique story of being "taken" without experiencing death serves as a profound illustration of living in such close communion with God that one is removed from the earthly realm altogether, directly preceding the explanation of why faith is essential for pleasing God.
Enoch's story is incredibly brief in Genesis, yet here in Hebrews, his life is summed up by two powerful truths. What does it truly mean to 'please God'?
The verse highlights Enoch's distinct testimony: 'he had this testimony, that he pleased God.' While Genesis 5:24 simply says 'Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,' the writer of Hebrews connects this to 'pleasing God.'
The Essence of Pleasing God
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Enoch's departure is unlike any other recorded in the Old Testament. It wasn't a typical death but a unique translation. What does this extraordinary event reveal about God's plan?
The verse emphasizes that Enoch 'was taken up so that he should not see death.' This wasn't just an escape from the grave; it was a powerful demonstration of God's ability to intervene and a preview of a future reality.
The Significance of Translation
Understand the original words
thanatos · Greek Noun
The permanent cessation of physical life as a result of the Fall, or the final state of separation from God’s presence in this world.
euaresteo · Greek Verb
To live in a manner that aligns with God's desires, winning His favor through obedience and a heart focused on His pleasure.
Enoch's story, though brief in Genesis, takes on profound significance through later interpretations, particularly the Septuagint and the New Testament, which emphasize his faith and unique removal from earth as a testament to his relationship with God.
c. 3000 BC— this verse
Enoch's Life and Translation
Enoch lived a life of faith, walking with God for 300 years. The Genesis account states, 'Enoch was not, for God took him,' implying his removal from earth without experiencing death.
c. 1440-1400 BC
Book of Genesis Written
Moses records the brief account of Enoch's life and mysterious departure in the Book of Genesis, drawing from earlier traditions.
c. 200-100 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek. This translation renders Genesis 5:24 as 'Enoch pleased God and was not found, because God translated him,' emphasizing the pleasing God aspect and using the term 'translated' for his removal.
c. AD 30-35
Jesus' Ministry and Ascension
Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension provide a precedent for miraculous bodily transport, influencing the understanding of Enoch's and Elijah's departures.
c. AD 60-65
New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews Written
The author of Hebrews includes Enoch in the Hall of Faith, highlighting his unique departure as an act of faith and a testament to his pleasing God.
This is the original Old Testament account of Enoch, directly referenced in Hebrews, stating 'he was not, for God took him,' laying the foundation for the New Testament writer's interpretation of his translation by faith.
Luke 2:26This passage uses a similar phrasing, 'you will not see death,' in reference to Simeon seeing the Messiah, highlighting the concept of a faithful life cut short of experiencing death's finality.
Jude 1:14-15The epistle of Jude directly quotes Enoch's prophecy concerning judgment, demonstrating that Enoch was not only a man of faith who pleased God but also a prophet whose words revealed God's future actions.
2 Kings 2:11This passage describes Elijah being taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, mirroring Enoch's unique departure from Earth and serving as another biblical example of a life removed from mortal experience by divine intervention.
Hebrews 11:6Immediately following this verse, the author explicitly links pleasing God to faith, stating 'without faith it is impossible to please God,' reinforcing why Enoch's faith was the key to his special commendation and removal.
ellicottHebrews 11:5: "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."
(5) See death. —See Luke 2:26 ; Psalm 89:48 ( John 8:51 ). And was not found . . . translated him.—An exact quotation from the LXX. (Genesis 5:24). The word rendered “translated” is a very simple one, denoting merely change of place; but nothing can equal the simplicity of the Hebrew, “he was not. fo…
vincentHebrews 11:5: "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."
EnochGenesis 5:21-24. Comp. Sir. 44:16; 49:14; Wisd. 4:10.Was translated (μετετέθη)The verb used of Enoch's translation, lxx, Genesis 5:24. In Acts 7:16 of the transporting of the remains of Jacob and his sons to Sychem. In Galatians 1:6, of the sudden change in the religious attitude of the Galatia…
The most striking thing here is that Enoch's "testimony" wasn't a public declaration, but rather the fact of his life and his extraordinary end, which Scripture itself recorded as evidence that he had pleased God. This shows us that God’s testimony about us can be found not just in what we say, but in the way we live and the way God honors us.
This passage is part of a larger argument in Hebrews about the nature of faith, showcasing Old Testament figures who lived by it. It follows the example of Abel and Noah, emphasizing how faith bridges the gap between humanity and God. Enoch's unique story of being "taken" without experiencing death serves as a profound illustration of living in such close communion with God that one is removed from the earthly realm altogether, directly preceding the explanation of why faith is essential for pleasing God.
This passage is part of a larger argument in Hebrews about the nature of faith, showcasing Old Testament figures who lived by it. It follows the example of Abel and Noah, emphasizing how faith bridges the gap between humanity and God. Enoch's unique story of being "taken" without experiencing death serves as a profound illustration of living in such close communion with God that one is removed from the earthly realm altogether, directly preceding the explanation of why faith is essential for pleasing God.
"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God." — The most striking thing here is that Enoch's "testimony" wasn't a public declaration, but rather the fact of his life and his extraordinary end, which Scripture itself recorded as evidence that he…
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