Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Tory Thorpe <torythrp AT yahoo.com>]

I didn't know our אורים ותומים have been found. But BDB, 
admittedly not as authoritative, does list the cognates in the Arabic, 
Aramaic, Palmyrene, etc. These are all consistent with Enosh meaning men, 
man, or mankind; and the Rambam in Hil. Avodas Kochavim 1:1-2 explains that 
Enosh in Gen. 4:26 was so named due to the idolatry that became rampant among 
**men** at this time.

Tory Thorpe


Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu> wrote: The interpretation of the name ENOSH as 
‘man’ comes from two  
sources: first, from the plural ×× ×©×™× (ANASHIM) ‘men’ of  
איש (ISH) ‘man’, and × ×©×™× (NASHIM), ‘women’ of  אשה  
(ISHA) ‘woman’, and second from the root  ×× ×© (ANASH) ‘to be  
weak'. Thus,  ENOSH of Isaiah 13:12 is not necessarily ENOSH of  
Genesis 4:26, the same way that SHET of Genesis 4:26 is not the same  
as SHET 'buttocks' of Isaiah 20:4. As far as BDB is concerned, it is  
not our אורים ותומים.
Isaac Fried, Boston University