Who You Are to Me: Name Giver - Seth

The second name listed in the genealogy of Adam is his third born son, Seth.

Adam again had sexual relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Shet (Seth, “granted”), “For God has granted me another seed in place of Hevel (Abel), since Kayin(Cain) killed him.” Genesis 4:25 (CJSB)

Depending on your translation, the meaning of Seth’s name may read differently. The KJV and Tree of Live versions use the word “appointed”, the Complete Jewish Study Bible and NIV use “granted”. When looking up Seth in the Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, another meaning is “foundation” and stems from the root word “shiyth” meaning, “put, set, quality, appearance, and appoint”. In this context, the part of speech is a verb. However, when we look at the same word where the part of speech is a noun, we find that it means “thornbushes”.

Let us now put all of this into the context of Yeshua, starting with that last noun from the root shiyth, thornbushes. Three different things concerning thornbushes came instantly to my mind. When God cursed the land in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve ate of the tree, God calling out to Moses from the burning thornbush that was not consumed by the flames, and of course the crown of thorns that was upon Messiah’s brow when He was crucified. We can see the work of Yeshua in the meaning of Seth’s name with the words, foundation which also ties to cornerstone, compensation, substituted, and appointed.

Foundation and Cornerstone

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah. 1 Corinthians 3:11

You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yeshua the Messiah himself. Ephesians 3:20

Therefore, here is what Adonai Elohim says: “Look, I am laying in Tziyon a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a firm foundation-stone; he who trusts will not rush here and there. Isaiah 28:16

Compensation

I wanted to see what our English definition of the word compensation meant. Mariam-Webster lists one definition as “A psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another. Something that constitutes an equivalent or recompense.” Our lives are filled with feelings of inferiority, frustration, and failure and Yeshua was our counterbalance. The achievement of our restoration to God comes only through Him.

Substituted

Any time I think of the work of substitution that Yeshua did on my behalf, it leaves me in awe. To think that He chose to walk this path for me, so that I would not be eternally separated from God the Father - it’s incredible, there is no greater love than His.

This was done to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Yesha’yahu (Isaiah), “He himself took our weaknesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:17

For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve – and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, the Messiah died on behalf of ungodly people.” Romans 5:6

For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead,) and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21

When he was insulted, he didn’t retaliate with insults; when he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but handed them over to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness – by his wounds you were healed. For you used to be like sheep gone astray, but now you have turned to the Shepherd, who watches over you. 1 Peter 2:23-25

For the Messiah himself died for sins, once and for all, a righteous person on behalf of unrighteous people, so that he might bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18

Appointed

I love the book of Isaiah. It is so full of Messianic prophecy and promise. I also can’t help but think of the wonders he saw that he details out in chapter 6 when he saw the holiness of God and instantly recognized his own unholiness and unrighteousness and knew that his own merit would never be enough. But God, (one of my favorite phrases, by the way), stepped in and cleansed Isaiah’s unrighteousness and sent him to speak great and mighty things. We see one of these beautiful Messianic prophies in Isaiah 49:8-13

Here is what Adonai says: “At the time when I choose, I will answer you; on the day of salvation, I will help you. I have preserved you, and I have appointed you to be the covenant for a people, to restore the land and distribute again its ruined inheritances to their owners, to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out!’ to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’ They will feed along the paths, and all the high hills will be their pastures. They will be neither hungry nor thirst; neither scorching wind nor sun will strike them; for he who has mercy on them will lead them and guide them to springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into a road, my highways will be raised up. There they come, some from far away, some for the north, some from the west, and some from the land of Sinim.” Sing, heaven! Rejoice earth! Break out in song, you mountains! For Adonai is comforting his people, having mercy on his own who have suffered.

The book of Hebrews talks about His appointment as well, saying, “He was faithful to God, who appointed him; just as Moshe (Moses) was faithful in all God’s house.” Hebrews 3:2

I decided to look up the synonyms for the word appointed and found the words selected, chosen, delegated and named. As the name of Yeshua is above every name, and this post and the few to follow in this series are about names, I decided to look at those synonyms as well. It is a beautiful summation of our Lord and Savior, and I will leave you with that.

Named – chosen, appointed, commissioned, delegated, authorized, nominated, ordained, entrusted, picked, picked out, preferred, favored, consecrated, sanctioned, drafted, declared, announced, singled out.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!