Kenan
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Topical Encyclopedia
Kenan, also spelled Cainan, is a significant figure in the genealogical records of the Bible, appearing in the Old Testament as part of the lineage from Adam to Noah. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, and he is also mentioned in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles and the Gospel of Luke.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 5:9-14 : Kenan is introduced in the genealogical account of the descendants of Adam. According to Genesis 5:9-14, "When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. And after he had become the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. So Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died. When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. And after he had become the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. So Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died."

2. 1 Chronicles 1:2 : Kenan is listed in the genealogical records of the tribes of Israel, affirming his place in the lineage from Adam through Seth: "Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared."

3. Luke 3:37-38 : In the New Testament, Kenan is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing His lineage back to Adam: "the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."

Genealogical Significance:

Kenan is the great-grandson of Adam, the first man created by God, and the grandson of Seth, who was born to Adam and Eve after the death of Abel. Kenan's position in the genealogical line is crucial as it connects the antediluvian patriarchs leading to Noah, through whom God preserved humanity during the Flood.

Lifespan and Legacy:

Kenan lived for 910 years, a testament to the long lifespans attributed to the early patriarchs in the pre-Flood world. His life spanned a period of significant development in early human history, as described in the Bible, where people began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26).

Theological Implications:

Kenan's inclusion in the genealogies underscores the continuity of God's plan for humanity, as each generation plays a role in the unfolding of divine history. His mention in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to bring salvation through the lineage of Adam, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the Old and New Testaments.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the context of ancient Near Eastern genealogies, Kenan's record serves not only as a historical account but also as a theological statement about the faithfulness of God in preserving a lineage through which He would enact His redemptive purposes. The genealogies emphasize the importance of family heritage and the transmission of faith from one generation to the next.

Kenan's life, though briefly mentioned, is a vital link in the biblical narrative, illustrating the enduring nature of God's covenant with humanity and His sovereign orchestration of history.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Kenan

buyer; owner

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Kenan

(possession) = CAINAN, the son of Enos. (1 Chronicles 1:2)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
KENAN

ke'-nan (qenan; Kainan): A son of Enosh, the son of Seth (Genesis 5:9, 10, 12, 13, 14 1 Chronicles 1:2). the King James Version form (except in 1 Chronicles 1:2), is "Cainan."

Greek
2536. Kainam -- Cainan, two ancestors of Christ
... Cainan. Of Hebrew origin (Qeynan); Cainan (ie Kenan), the name of two patriarchs --
Cainan. see HEBREW Qeynan. (kainam) -- 2 Occurrences. 2535, 2536. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2536.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
7018. Qenan -- a descendant of Seth
... Qenan. 7019 . a descendant of Seth. Transliteration: Qenan Phonetic Spelling:
(kay-nawn') Short Definition: Kenan. ... of Seth NASB Word Usage Kenan (6). ...
/hebrew/7018.htm - 6k
Library

Chapter v
... Year of death Adam> 130 1 800 930 930 Seth> 105 130 807 912 1042 Enos> 90 235 815
905 1140 Kenan> 70 325 840 910 1235 Mahalalel> 65 395 830 895 1290 Jared> 162 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter v.htm

Chapter iv
... Adam Adam Cain Seth Enoch Enosh Irad Kenan Mehujael Mahalalel Methushael Jared Lamech
Enoch Jabal-Jubal-Tubal Cain Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem-Ham-Japheth. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter iv.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... Karnak. ** The site of Pakanana has, with much probability, been fixed at
El-Kenan or Khurbet-Kanaan, to the south of Hebron. Brugsch ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

Thesaurus
Kenan (7 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia KENAN. ...Kenan (7 Occurrences). Luke 3:37 son of
Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Kenan, (WEY NIV) ...
/k/kenan.htm - 8k

Kenan's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Kenan's (1 Occurrence). Genesis 5:14 And all the years
of Kenan's life were nine hundred and ten; and he came to his end. (BBE). ...
/k/kenan's.htm - 6k

Mahalalel (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Mahalalel (8 Occurrences). Luke 3:37 son of Methuselah,
son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Kenan, (WEY NIV). ...
/m/mahalalel.htm - 9k

Ma-hal'alel (6 Occurrences)
... Ma-hal'alel (6 Occurrences). Genesis 5:12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became
the father of Mahalalel. ... 1 Chronicles 1:2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, (See RSV). ...
/m/ma-hal'alel.htm - 7k

Enosh (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 5:9 Enosh lived ninety years, and
became the father of Kenan. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/enosh.htm - 9k

Enos (7 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 5:9 Enosh
lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. (Root ...
/e/enos.htm - 10k

Eight (81 Occurrences)
... Genesis 5:10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred
fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ...
/e/eight.htm - 31k

Daughters (246 Occurrences)
... Genesis 5:10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred
fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ...
/d/daughters.htm - 39k

Cainan (8 Occurrences)
... died. He is also called Kenan (1 Chronicles 1:2). (2.) The son of Arphaxad
(Luke 3:36). He is nowhere named in the Old Testament. ...
/c/cainan.htm - 9k

Resources
What is the definition of antediluvian? | GotQuestions.org

Who was the oldest man in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Kenan (7 Occurrences)

Luke 3:37
son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Kenan,
(WEY NIV)

Genesis 5:9
Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:10
Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:12
Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:13
Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:14
and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Kenan

Related Terms

Kenan (7 Occurrences)

Kenaniah (2 Occurrences)

Chenani (1 Occurrence)

Kenah
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