Brief Overview of Σήθ (Strong’s G4589: Sēth)

Strong’s G4589: The Greek form of the Hebrew name שֵׁת (Seth), meaning “appointed” or “placed.” Third son of Adam and Eve, given in place of Abel. His appearance in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus emphasizes Christ’s role as the promised seed and second Adam.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σήθ represents a crucial link in the messianic lineage, appearing in Luke 3:38 as part of Jesus’ genealogy traced back to Adam. As Eve’s “appointed” son after Abel’s death, Seth represents God’s faithfulness in preserving the godly line through which the Messiah would come. Early church fathers saw Seth as a type of Christ, representing new hope and God’s preservation of His redemptive plan. Today, his name reminds us of God’s sovereign purpose in maintaining His covenant promises despite human failure.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σήθ, Sēth, SAYTH
• Detailed pronunciation: one syllable: ‘SAYTH’ as in faith
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Transliteration of Hebrew שֵׁת (Sheth)
• From Hebrew root שִׁית meaning “to put, place”
• Indeclinable in Greek

D – Defining Meanings

• Appointed one
• Substitute
• Placed one

For compound words:
Not applicable as this is a transliterated proper noun

Translation Options:

• “Seth” – Traditional English rendering
• “Sheth” – Closer to Hebrew pronunciation
• “Sēth” – Academic transliteration

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ἀδάμ (Adam, ah-DAHM) – Adam See G76
• Ἄβελ (Abel, AH-bell) – Abel See G6
• Ἐνώς (Enōs, en-OACE) – Enos See G1800

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Noun Features:

• Indeclinable proper noun
• Always masculine
• No case changes
• Always singular

As an indeclinable noun, Σήθ maintains the same form regardless of its grammatical function in the sentence.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies Σήθ as Adam’s son in Jesus’ genealogy. Thayer’s emphasizes the meaning “appointed.” LSJ notes its use in Hellenistic Jewish literature. Vine’s connects it to the preservation of the godly line. Strong’s links it to its Hebrew origin. Moulton-Milligan shows limited usage outside biblical contexts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” Luke 3:38

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σήθ powerfully demonstrates God’s faithfulness in preserving the line of promise. Through Seth, God maintained the godly lineage leading to Christ, showing that His redemptive purposes cannot be thwarted. His story reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate “appointed one,” fulfilling God’s promise to bring salvation through the seed of the woman.

D – Did You Know?

1. Seth’s line maintained monotheistic worship according to ancient Jewish tradition.
2. Early Christian writers saw Seth’s name (“appointed”) as prophetic of Christ’s appointment as Savior.
3. Some ancient texts credit Seth with preserving antediluvian wisdom.

Strong’s G4589: The Greek form of the Hebrew name שֵׁת (Seth), meaning “appointed” or “placed.” Third son of Adam and Eve, given in place of Abel. His appearance in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus emphasizes Christ’s role as the promised seed and second Adam.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Seth, genealogy, Luke’s Gospel, Adam and Eve, messianic line, biblical names, Hebrew names, Genesis, antediluvian patriarchs, Jesus’ ancestry, covenant promises, redemptive history​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​