Introduction

The narrative of Enoch in Genesis 5:22 stands as a pivotal point in the genealogy of Adam, highlighting Enoch’s unique relationship with God. This passage, however, presents a textual variation that prompts significant scholarly inquiry. The Masoretic Text (MT) describes Enoch’s relationship with God using the phrase “walked with God,” whereas the Septuagint (LXX) renders this as “Enoch was pleasing to God.” Furthermore, the MT notes that Enoch lived for three hundred years after fathering Methuselah, in contrast to the two hundred years cited in the LXX. This analysis seeks to unravel the original wording of Genesis 5:22, leveraging documentary evidence and internal narrative dynamics to elucidate the nature of Enoch’s piety.

Manuscript Evidence and Analysis

Textual Variants Overview

Main Reading (MT – Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia): Hebrew: וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֨ךְ חֲנ֜וֹךְ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים, translated as “Then Enoch walked with God.”
Variant Reading (LXX): “And Enoch pleased God,” offering a paraphrased interpretation that diverges in both phrasing and the duration of Enoch’s life post-fathering Methuselah.

External Evidence

The MT’s depiction of Enoch “walking with God” is mirrored in both verse 22 and 24 of chapter 5, suggesting a consistent portrayal of Enoch’s divine fellowship. The LXX’s choice to paraphrase this as “Enoch was pleasing to God” may reflect concerns about anthropomorphizing God or implying an overly familiar relationship between the divine and human realms. Additionally, the discrepancy in the number of years Enoch lived after fathering Methuselah (three hundred in the MT versus two hundred in the LXX) indicates a variant tradition or interpretative difference regarding Enoch’s life span.

Internal Evidence and Narrative Consideration

The metaphor “walked with God” suggests an intimate, continuous relationship between Enoch and the divine, fitting the narrative’s broader themes of faith and divine approval. This phrase emphasizes a moral and spiritual alignment with God, unique within the genealogical context of Genesis 5. The LXX’s interpretation, “Enoch was pleasing to God,” while less direct, conveys a similar theme of divine favor but lacks the vivid imagery of companionship implied in the MT. The alteration in the years lived after fathering Methuselah could be attributed to different textual traditions or theological motivations in portraying Enoch’s life and piety.

Conclusion

Considering the documentary evidence and the thematic congruence of the narrative, the Masoretic Text’s portrayal of Enoch “walking with God” likely represents a more original element of the tradition. This phrasing enriches the narrative by providing a dynamic image of Enoch’s righteousness and his exceptional status among the antediluvian patriarchs. The Septuagint’s rendering and its adjustment of the years post-Methuselah, while reflecting a venerable tradition, seem to stem from interpretative decisions possibly aimed at addressing theological concerns or cultural sensibilities regarding the depiction of the divine-human relationship. The MT’s consistency in the use of “walked with God” across Genesis 5 and the vividness of this metaphor in expressing Enoch’s devoutness suggest it as the closer reading to the original text. This conclusion not only sheds light on the textual history of Genesis 5:22 but also underscores the depth of Enoch’s piety and his unique relationship with God as preserved in the biblical narrative.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is the CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored more than 220 books and is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).