1. Hebrews 11:5–6 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why is Enoch mentioned in this hall of fame of believers?

Hebrews 11:5–6 (ESV)

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

To encourage the Hebrews to endure in faith (see Hebrews 10:35–39) those believers who persevered in difficult situations and persecution are mentioned in Hebrews 11:1–40. Verses Hebrews 11:4–8 speaks about people who lived in the old world—the world before the flood (2 Peter 2:4). Enoch was commended as having pleased God (Hebrews 11:5). It means that God, the Holy Spirit gave a positive testimony about him in the Bible. (Look at Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 11:2, Hebrews 11:4–5, Hebrews 11:39 to see for what these witnesses were commended.)