וַיִּתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ חֲנֹ֖וךְ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְאֵינֶ֕נּוּ כִּֽי־לָקַ֥ח אֹתֹ֖ו אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Genesis 5:24 is one of the most enigmatic and theologically rich verses in the genealogies of Genesis. It describes the fate of Ḥanokh (Enoch) not with the typical death formula—“and he died”—but with poetic mystery: וְאֵינֶנּוּ, “and he was not,” because אֱלֹהִים had taken him. Central to this verse is the verb וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ, a Hitpael form meaning “he walked himself,” suggesting sustained and intimate relationship, here uniquely “with God.” This grammatical nuance elevates Ḥanokh’s fate above mere mortality, transforming an ordinary genealogy into a spiritual ascent.
Literal Translation
“And Ḥanokh walked with God, and he was no more, for God took him.”
Word-by-Word Morphology
- וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ (vayyithallēkh) –
Root: ה־ל־ך;
Form: Hitpael wayyiqtol 3ms;
Translation: “he walked himself / he walked continually”;
Notes: Reflexive and iterative—used of moral or relational conduct; this form emphasizes intimacy and ongoing relationship. - חֲנֹוךְ (Ḥanōkh) –
Root: – ;
Form: proper noun, masculine singular;
Translation: “Ḥanokh” (Enoch) - אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים (ʾet-hāʾĕlōhīm) –
Root: א־ל־ה;
Form: direct object marker + definite noun;
Translation: “with God”;
Notes: Though אֶת typically marks a direct object, in this idiom it is relational, expressing accompaniment. - וְאֵינֶנּוּ (wəʾênennū) –
Root: אַיִן;
Form: negative existential + 3ms suffix;
Translation: “and he was no more”;
Notes: Poetic or idiomatic way of describing disappearance or death—used in contrast to ordinary death notices. - כִּי־לָקַח (kī-lāqaḥ) –
Root: ל־ק־ח;
Form: conjunction + Qal perfect 3ms;
Translation: “for He took”;
Notes: “Took” in the sense of divine removal—used also of Elijah (2 Kings 2:3). - אֹתֹו (ʾōtō) –
Root: – ;
Form: direct object marker with 3ms suffix;
Translation: “him” - אֱלֹהִים (ʾĕlōhīm) –
Root: א־ל־ה;
Form: masculine plural (grammatically), semantically singular;
Translation: “God”
וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ: Walking as Fellowship
The verb וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ is in the Hitpael stem, expressing reflexive or repeated action—“he kept walking.” This grammatical form is used of others as well (e.g., Noah in Genesis 6:9), but it is rare in the genealogies. Most entries follow a predictable pattern: X lived Y years, begot Z, and died. But here, Ḥanokh “walked with God”—a grammatical deviation that signals theological significance.
Instead of merely existing, Ḥanokh is portrayed as actively living with God, continuously and relationally. The Hitpael form underlines that this was not an isolated act, but a defining pattern of life.
וְאֵינֶנּוּ: The Grammar of Disappearance
The phrase וְאֵינֶנּוּ is a powerful use of existential negation: “and he is not.” It avoids the more formulaic וַיָּמֹת (“and he died”) found elsewhere in Genesis 5. The result is theological ambiguity—Ḥanokh does not merely die; he is taken.
This language finds echo in:
- Psalm 39:14 – וְאֵינֶנִּי, “and I am no more”
- 2 Kings 2:10 – Elijah is “taken” in a similar passive sense
God Took Him: Divine Assumption in Syntax
The verb לָקַח (“to take”) is used with God as subject and Ḥanokh as object. It implies more than death—it hints at translation or assumption. In this context, the act is unilateral: God acts, Ḥanokh disappears. The grammar underscores divine initiative and control.
The Walk That Did Not End
Genesis 5:24 transforms an otherwise formulaic genealogy into a moment of wonder. Through the iterative Hitpael verb וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ, the disappearance clause וְאֵינֶנּוּ, and the divine action לָקַח אֹתוֹ אֱלֹהִים, the verse declares that life with God transcends the grave. The grammar itself walks away from death—just as Ḥanokh did.
