Why was Enoch allowed to escape death?

Hmm, I wonder about that line "so that he did not experience death".

Well, if you're going to question why Enoch was spared, you'll have to question why Elijah was spared too. He was supposed to have never experienced death either.

Thank you for that interesting question!
Here are a few "theories" I have heard.
1) Enoch was a "type" of the Church. When God poured out judgement on the world through the Universal Flood, Enoch was removed just before the rain started that he would not see death nor face the judgement of a righteous God. Likewise, if you believe in the Rapture of the Church before worldwide judgement, the true Church will be removed before the judgement.
2) Some think Elijah and Enoch actually died while traveling to Heaven,as,without protection of the Lord, they would die of asphyxiation once above the earth by five or ten miles. Of course, a God that can produce a worldwide flood or a fiery chariot can certainly conduct a live person to Heaven. Of course, the Bible also says,"For the wages of sin is death..."Romans 6::23 which certainly would include even Enoch and Elijah. They sinned, so they had to die,is the thought.
3)God is sovereign, so He can do whatever He likes. Because Enoch and Elijah were blameless (not sinless) before God, He seems to have excepted them for His own glory.
4)Speaking of living men in Heaven, you know that Christ is the God-Man, and is a living,breathing Man in Heaven. Paul refers to Christ as being "The Man,Christ Jesus." When He Ascended, He lifted from the earth like Enoch and Elijah, but in His own power. He also died first...but not for Himself. He died for Enoch, and Elijah, and me and you,too. If the Rapture of the Church is true, then all true Christians will lift off just like Him. And like Him,we will be given a new body, which we know very little about now, but I expect it will be super!
Kinda keeps you looking unto Jesus,the Author and Finisher of our faith, don't it?
I had a friend,who was one of the most Godly women I knew.She had a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis that was slowly freezing her into a statue-like position. She paid me the complement that all she knew about the Bible she had learned from me. She's dead now, and I expect she LOVES her new body, and He that bought it for her!!!

Julian of York
"And I heard a great voice out of Heaven say, Behold,the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." Revelations 21:3

I wouldn't depend too much on anything the NIV says. It really isn't a good translation. Consider, for instance, how the oldest Aramaic translation by the ancient Jews themselves rendered it:

And Enoch walked in reverence of the Lord, then he was no more, for the Lord had caused him to die.
--Targum Onkelos 5:24

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Or consider what Philo, the Greek Jew, wrote of this verse from about the time of Christ working from the Septuagint:

Why, when Enoch died, the sacred historian adds the assertion, “He pleased God”?
--Questions and Answers on Genesis 1:85

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Or Josephus a short time after Christ:

And indeed, as to Elijah, and as to Enoch, who was before the deluge, it is written in the sacred books that they disappeared, but so that nobody knew that they died.
--Antiquities 9:2:2

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Even Hebrews says Enoch died:

All these [the previously mentioned people, which included Enoch] died in faith . . .
--Hebrews 11:13

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As it turns out, there is really little (if no) reason from a grammatical and textual standpoint to say Enoch didn't die.

The Hebrew that says “he was not there” is a direct reference to death elsewhere in scripture. For example, Genesis 42:13 and 32 have the same Hebrew to communicate the death of Joseph (see Genesis 44:20 where the meaning of death is given). Jeremiah 49:10 uses it to speak of the destruction and death of the Idumaeans along with their neighbors. Ezekiel 28:19 uses it to speak of the annihilation of Tyre and the death of its monarch. Job uses it in 7:8 and 21 to speak of his death. Etc.

The Hebrew that says God “took him” is also a direct reference to death elsewhere in scripture. For example, Job says of the death of everyone he loved “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (1:21, NASB). In his lamentation, Jonah asks God to “take” his life from him (4:3). God says he will “take” Ezekiel's wife and she dies (24:16, 18). Etc.

And the funny thing is, the verb “to take” that is speaking of Enoch is actually never used to speak of what happens to Elijah. In all the instances where the event of Elijah's translation is actually described, the verb “to ascend” is used. There really is nothing in the text to link what happens to Enoch to what happened to Elijah at all.

But there is certainly something different going on. I think that Enoch was either resurrected or brought up from death to a “waiting place” so that while he may not have been resurrected, he also wasn't in the grave among the dead. Irenaeus claims that the disciples of the Apostles believed that:

Where, then, was the first man placed? In paradise certainly, as the Scripture declares "And God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He placed the man whom He had formed." And then afterwards when [man] proved disobedient, he was cast out thence into this world. Wherefore also the elders who were disciples of the apostles tell us that those who were translated were transferred to that place (for paradise has been prepared for righteous men, such as have the Spirit; in which place also Paul the apostle, when he was caught up, heard words which are unspeakable as regards us in our present condition), and that there shall they who have been translated remain until the consummation, as a prelude to immortality.
--Against Heresies, 5:5

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Heres a few verses that appear to go with the picture of Enoch, highlights for comparing between verses.


The question and how its worded

Psalm 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not **see death**? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?

Jesus answer and how its worded...

John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep **my saying**, he shall never **see death**.

Shown in Enoch and how its worded ...

Heb 11:10 **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.


Enoch was not found, shown as the same principal here...

Phil 3:9 And be **found** in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God **by faith**

Without faith its impossible to please God

Heb 11:10 **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.


Enoch ("dedicated", or taught of God by faith) "walked with God" in "the way" (even as this too relates no death as shown below)

Prov 12:28 In **the way** of righteousness" is life and in the pathway thereof there is **no death**.


John come to prepare the way (before the Lord)

Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Maybe these can add to your searching

Slaol121 said:

The writer of Genesis tells us that Enoch did not die, but was assumed into heaven:

• "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." Genesis 5:24 (NIV)

This is later affirmed in Hebrews:

• By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” Hebrews 11:5 (NIV)

Since the bible clearly states that "ALL" have sinned, and that death is a result of this sin, why was Enoch spared?

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First, die or not die is related to our physical body (the first death), in this case. If I am a Christian, then God takes me up when I physically die. But God can also take me up even my physical death is not witnessed. God does not take my physical body up, and my physical body will no longer exist when God takes me, die or not die.

Second, probably more significant, is that God can forgive our sins in anyway He likes to. It can be done all together in one deal (through Jesus the Lord). Or it can be done individually, such as the cases of Enoch and Elijah. Who said that a person MUST physically die in order to see God?

What a wonderful voice you have to add to the heavenly chorus, Fireinfolding!

I was thinking about John 8:51 not too long ago. It struck me that if Yeshua was claiming that whoever keeps his words shall not see death, how much MORE is it true of the one by whom those words have come! And yet even Yeshua died. But he did not see death because he was translated from the realm of the dead to the realm of the Living Eternal! And then we see that very thing described in the Psalm you quote—“not seeing death” being deliverance from the grave.

All praise be to YHWH, The One Who Spoke And The World Came Into Being.

Childofdust, you sound like an old friend I both love and miss (if you be him) because I see your new. But I just wanted to say that (in case you are him) but thank you for your warm welcome and that was just beautiful, amen brother.

God through Christ be blessed for ever

We could probrobly run this also in respects to "the testimony" (even a faith that worketh by love) even unto all pleasing

He "this testimony", which sounds like a few of these could be seen in comparison with others the apostles spake of

Heb 11:10 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.


John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.


1Cr 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

And likewise here (to pass) is also to be translated from one place unto another (spiritually so) here (which could also indicate why before his translation he had this testimony)

In like fashion

1John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

2Cr 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Faith works by love, the passing from death unto life (even here) is "because we love the brethren" and herein is also glorified, and wherein we labour (in love) to be accepted if Him likewise.

I havent looked at this for years but Im glad theres a post on this, because when I always come back to a thing (no matter how long its been) I get a little more from it myself.

childofdust said:

I wouldn't depend too much on anything the NIV says. It really isn't a good translation. Consider, for instance, how the oldest Aramaic translation by the ancient Jews themselves rendered it:

Or consider what Philo, the Greek Jew, wrote of this verse from about the time of Christ working from the Septuagint:

Or Josephus a short time after Christ:

Even Hebrews says Enoch died:

As it turns out, there is really little (if no) reason from a grammatical and textual standpoint to say Enoch didn't die.

The Hebrew that says “he was not there” is a direct reference to death elsewhere in scripture. For example, Genesis 42:13 and 32 have the same Hebrew to communicate the death of Joseph (see Genesis 44:20 where the meaning of death is given). Jeremiah 49:10 uses it to speak of the destruction and death of the Idumaeans along with their neighbors. Ezekiel 28:19 uses it to speak of the annihilation of Tyre and the death of its monarch. Job uses it in 7:8 and 21 to speak of his death. Etc.

The Hebrew that says God “took him” is also a direct reference to death elsewhere in scripture. For example, Job says of the death of everyone he loved “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (1:21, NASB). In his lamentation, Jonah asks God to “take” his life from him (4:3). God says he will “take” Ezekiel's wife and she dies (24:16, 18). Etc.

And the funny thing is, the verb “to take” that is speaking of Enoch is actually never used to speak of what happens to Elijah. In all the instances where the event of Elijah's translation is actually described, the verb “to ascend” is used. There really is nothing in the text to link what happens to Enoch to what happened to Elijah at all.

But there is certainly something different going on. I think that Enoch was either resurrected or brought up from death to a “waiting place” so that while he may not have been resurrected, he also wasn't in the grave among the dead. Irenaeus claims that the disciples of the Apostles believed that:

Click to expand...

Interesting that with others in the Bible; David, Moses, etc, it is written that they were "buried"...even with Moses it is written that he "died" and that God Himself "buried" him.....

Fireinfolding said:

Heres a few verses that appear to go with the picture of Enoch, highlights for comparing between verses.


The question and how its worded

Psalm 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not **see death**? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?

Jesus answer and how its worded...

John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep **my saying**, he shall never **see death**.

Shown in Enoch and how its worded ...

Heb 11:10 **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.


Enoch was not found, shown as the same principal here...

Phil 3:9 And be **found** in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God **by faith**

Without faith its impossible to please God

Heb 11:10 **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.


Enoch ("dedicated", or taught of God by faith) "walked with God" in "the way" (even as this too relates no death as shown below)

Prov 12:28 In **the way** of righteousness" is life and in the pathway thereof there is **no death**.


John come to prepare the way (before the Lord)

Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Maybe these can add to your searching

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Interesting.....this is intriguing.....

juvenissun said:

First, die or not die is related to our physical body (the first death), in this case. If I am a Christian, then God takes me up when I physically die. But God can also take me up even my physical death is not witnessed. God does not take my physical body up, and my physical body will no longer exist when God takes me, die or not die.

Second, probably more significant, is that God can forgive our sins in anyway He likes to. It can be done all together in one deal (through Jesus the Lord). Or it can be done individually, such as the cases of Enoch and Elijah. Who said that a person MUST physically die in order to see God?

Click to expand...

Wasn't Paul taken up to the 3rd heaven (or something like that) and was admonished not to talk about it? He saw God, did he not? And what about John?

Going straight to the OP / thread title: because Christ conquered death! The ramifications of the Incarnation are something we tend to sell short ...

excuse me if i write in too old a thread

Enoch is the first great prophet of the true God revealing all the truth about the difference between spiritual and spiritual, with which He had overcome the world - it was the first great victory over sin and death

Blessings