ENOS (Hebrew 'Enos' = 'humanity', 'man'). An extremely ancient patriarch. In Gen. 4:26—considered by critics to be a Yahwistic document—the usual formula outlines the genealogy of E., son of Seth (cf. 1 Chron. 1:1). Of great interest for the history of religion is the statement that in the time of E. "men began to call upon the name of the Lord."
The biblical expression should not be interpreted as meaning that E. was the first to manifest religious sentiment, which was already innate in the first human family even after the Fall (cf. Gen. 4:3 ff.). Therefore, the only possible sense is that it refers to the establishment of public worship or specific rites, prayers, or sacrifices. Because of this piety, the name of E. remained renowned in Jewish tradition (cf. Berakhot 49:16, Hebrew text).
In Gen. 5:6–17—a document considered priestly by critics—the genealogy of E. is repeated, stating that at 90 years of age (190 according to the Septuagint) he became the father of Cainan and died at 905 years. Angelo Penna.