Seth
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- This article is about the Biblical Seth. For the Egyptian god, see Set (mythology); for other meanings, see Seth (disambiguation).
Seth or Shet (שֵׁת "Placed; appointed", Standard Hebrew Šet, Tiberian Hebrew Šēṯ, Arabic ÔíË), in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible, is the third son of Adam and Eve mentioned by name, and brother of Cain and Abel. He was born after Abel was slain by Cain.
According to the Bible, all contemporary humans are descended from Seth through his great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson Noah. In the Biblical account, Seth was 105 when his son Enos was born, and he died at the age of 912. In rabbinic literature, the name Seth (Hebrew: Sheth) is explained as meaning "foundation." According to this tradition, Seth was perceived as the "Foundation of the World," since he was the first ancestor of mankind to be born of human parents.
Nineteenth century scholars identified Seth with Shitti, an epithet for Marduk.
In Islam, he is regarded as a prophet.
Josephus refers to him as the most notable of the sons of Adam in the Antiquities of the Jews, and reports that his descendents built the Pillars of the sons of Seth.
Biblical references
- Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, "for God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh’s name. - Genesis 4:25-26 WEB
- Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. - Genesis 5:3 WEB
- Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh. Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters. All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died." - Genesis 5:6-8 WEB