ENOS (Heb. Enōi = “humanity,” “man”). — A most ancient patriarch. In Gen. 4, 26—Jahwist document according to critics—the genealogy of E., son of Seth, is outlined in the customary formula (cf. I Par. 1, 1). Of great interest for the history of religion is the statement according to which, in the time of E., “men began to invoke the name of Jahweh.”
The biblical expression should not be interpreted as meaning that the first manifestation of religious feeling is to be attributed to E., since it already appears innate in the first human family, even after sin (cf. Gen. 4, 3 sqq.). Thus the only possible meaning is that which refers the report to the establishment of public worship or of specific rites, prayers, or sacrifices. Because of this sentiment of piety, the name of E. remained famous in Jewish tradition (cf. Eccl. 49, 16, Hebrew text).
In Gen. 5, 6–11—priestly document according to critics—the genealogy of E. is repeated once more; at the age of 90 (190 according to the Septuagint) he is said to have become the father of Cainan and to have died at 905 years of age. Angelo Penna