Σήθ (Sēth)
Sēth
Seth
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Sēth appears only once in the New Testament, recorded in Luke’s genealogy at the end of chapter 3 (Luke 3:38). It is a transliteration of the Hebrew word Sheth, referring to the third son of Adam and Eve. The sources identify the meaning as "compensation" or "substitution," reflecting the biblical narrative where Eve named him because God had given her another child in place of Abel, whom Cain killed (Genesis 4:25).
While the name carries significant historical weight in Genesis, its New Testament function is purely genealogical. Luke traces Jesus’ human ancestry back through Seth, connecting the Messiah to the earliest generations of humanity. This single mention serves as a link in the long chain of ancestors, emphasizing the continuity of human history from creation to Christ.
Translators consistently render this name as "Seth," preserving its identity without adding interpretive gloss. Its presence in Luke’s list underscores the universal scope of Jesus’ lineage, reaching back beyond Abraham and David to the very beginning of the human race.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Seth appears in the New Testament only once, tucked into the genealogy of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. It marks a crucial link between the first family and the Messiah. Eve named him meaning "substitution" or "compensation," recognizing that God had given her another son after Abel was taken from them. This simple name carries the weight of human resilience and divine grace.
For your faith, this connection reminds us that Jesus is fully human. He shares in the entire story of humanity, not just the line of kings but the lineage of all people. When you read Luke 3:38, see it as an invitation to belong to a vast family that stretches back to creation itself. You are part of this same human story, redeemed and included in God’s plan from the very beginning.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Seth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Σὴθ1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 3:38
the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
This verse places Seth directly between Enos and Adam, showing Jesus’ ancestry tracing back through the third son of humanity to God himself.