Genesis 4:26 says "then began men to call upon the name of the Lord."?

Question

What does this mean? Did men not call on His name before this?

Answer 1

Remeber, this is after the fall (Adam and Eve's rebellion) and the earth is not heavily populated. There were not churches or synagogues on corners, and no bibles available in book stores. There were no prophets to spread the message. Adam knew God, and this verse mentions Seth which is a son of Adam, so we know that the knowledge of God and Adam and Eve's experience were passed on through their family. How do we know? Cain and Abel, the first children born on earth, made sacrifices to the Lord God (this is what led to Abel's murder). The word "call" in the verse means to pronounce, proclaim, to call upon, etc. The verse also says that "men" began to call upon the name of the Lord, and since Seth was a son of Adam - here are your men that called upon the name of the Lord.


God bless.

Answer 2

This is an idiom mean they were "cussing out" kinda like saying Forget U God.
I'm gonna do what I want and so forth.

Keep in mind this started with the children of Cain and the progeny of the fallen ones.

There is a tradition (accurate or inaccurate) that states that Cain and his boys were killing off the other children of Adam. While would be calling out God to show his self and stop them. but since God placed a mark on Cain this could not happen.

God was called El Shaddai - God Almighty.

Answer 3

This is something of an enigma, because the Hebrew God never gives anyone his true name. Therefore, no one could call upon him by name.

Answer 4

Sweetie...there was no men before Genesis.

Answer 5

GEN.
4:26 YOUNGS LITERAL TRANSLATION:
26And to Seth, to him also a son hath been born, and he calleth his name Enos; then a beginning was made of preaching in the name of Jehovah."

--BECAUSE of the serious falling from Cain on & Satans' debased influence , the calling on Jehovah's name is similar to how our resident Jehovah haters do on these pages, with mockery and contempt for the father who gave his "only begotten son"--Christ Jesus!

*** w05 9/1 pp. 15-16 par. 10 Walk With God in These Turbulent Times ***

After Abel’s violent death, another son was born to Adam and Eve, and they named him Seth. Of him, we read: “To Seth also there was born a son and he proceeded to call his name Enosh. At that time a start was made of calling on the name of Jehovah.” (Genesis 4:25, 26) Sadly, that “calling on the name of Jehovah” was in an apostate way."

*** w05 9/1 p. 16 Walk With God in These Turbulent Time
--Before the days of Enosh, Jehovah spoke with Adam. Abel made an acceptable offering to Jehovah. God even communicated with Cain before jealous anger drove Cain to commit murder. Hence, this beginning of “calling on the name of Jehovah” must have been in a new way, not in pure worship."

*** w01 9/15 p. 29 Enoch Walked With God in an Ungodly World ***

--THE Devil contends that he can turn all humans away from God, and at times it must have seemed as though he was succeeding. For almost five centuries after Abel’s death, no one distinguished himself as a faithful servant of Jehovah. On the contrary, sinful and ungodly conduct had become the norm.
--It was during that spiritually degenerate time that Enoch appeared on the scene. Bible chronology sets his birth at 3404 B.C.E. Unlike his contemporaries, Enoch proved to be a man acceptable to God. The apostle Paul included him among Jehovah’s servants whose faith stands as an example for Christians. Who was Enoch? What challenges would he have to face? How did he meet them? And of what relevance is his integrity to us?
--In the days of Enosh, almost four centuries before Enoch’s time, “a start was made of calling on the name of Jehovah.” (Genesis 4:26) The divine name had been used since the beginning of human history. Hence, what began when Enosh was alive evidently was not a calling on Jehovah in faith and pure worship. Some Hebrew scholars hold that Genesis 4:26 should read “began profanely” or “then profanation began.” Men may have applied Jehovah’s name to themselves or to other humans through whom they pretended to approach God in worship. Or perhaps they applied his name to idols."