SETH sĕth (שֵׁ֑ת; LXX Σηθ, restitution?) KJV SHETH, shěth in 1 Chronicles 1:1. 1. Third son of Adam and Eve (Gen 4:25). The godly Messianic line descends from him to Noah (5:3, 4; 1 Chron 1:1; Ecclus 49:16; Luke 3:38). According to the MT and Samaritan rescension, Seth had a son named Enosh (Gen 5:6, 7) when he was 105 years old (LXX reads 205 years). He lived to be 912 years old (4:26; 5:6-8).

Because the genealogies in Genesis 4:18-22 and 5:3-32 both contain Enoch and Lamech, some think one derives from the so-called “J” document and the other from the “P” document. However, the differences would suggest that they are two entirely different lists rather than one list confused in transmission through two different traditions.

Some think he was named Seth (4:25) because he took the place of the murdered brother, Abel. However, this presents some linguistic problems, so perhaps rather than being derived from the root shath, “to appoint,” the name was selected because of its assonance with that verb.

2. An unknown person (Num 24:17 where ASV translates it “tumult”) who is the ancestor of a people mentioned by Balaam as enemies of Israel. Albright (BASOR, LXXXIII, 1941, 34) identifies them with the S̆wtw of Egyp. execration texts.