Hebrews 11:5
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By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Faith was the ground of his pleasing God; and his pleasing God was the ground of his translation. translated-- (Gen 5:22, Gen 5:24). Implying a sudden removal (the same Greek as in Gal 1:6) from mortality without death to immortality: such a CHANGE as shall pass over the living at Christ's coming (Co1 15:51-52). had this testimony--namely of Scripture; the Greek perfect implies that this testimony continues still: "he has been testified of." pleased God--The Scripture testimony virtually expresses that he pleased God, namely, "Enoch walked with God." The Septuagint translates the Hebrew for "walked with God," Gen 6:9, pleased God.
Open source ↗The apostle having, in the close of the foregoing chapter, recommended the grace of faith and a life of faith as the best preservative against apostasy, he how enlarges upon the nature and fruits of this excellent grace. I. The nature of it, and the honour it reflects upon all who live in the exercise of it (Heb 11:1-3). II. The great examples we have in the Old Testament of those who lived by faith, and died and suffered extraordinary things by the strength of his grace (v. 4-38). And, III. The advantages that we have in the gospel for the exercise of this grace above what those had who lived in the times of the Old Testament (Heb 11:39, Heb 11:40).
Open source ↗11:5 Enoch was taken up to heaven and thus did not face a normal death (see Gen 5:21-24). • “he disappeared, because God took him”: Gen 5:24.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, as well as Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.