What Is the Book of Enoch?
The Book of Enoch is one of the most controversial ancient texts in Jewish tradition. Not because it’s deceptive—but because it’s so vivid, so supernatural, and so outside the bounds of what’s considered inspired Scripture.
Written sometime between 300 and 100 BC, the book claims to record visions given to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. It survives today thanks to preservation by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and its rediscovery among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century stunned scholars. Why? Because Enoch reads like ancient fan fiction of Genesis 6—but was written long before the rise of Christianity.
While not accepted in the Jewish or Christian biblical canon (with the rare exception of Ethiopia), Enoch reflects real beliefs held by some Jewish sects before the time of Christ. It dramatically retells the story of Genesis 6:1–4—the mysterious passage about the “sons of God,” “daughters of men,” and the Nephilim.
Important Note:
The Book of Enoch is part of the Pseudepigrapha, meaning it was written under the name of a famous biblical figure (Enoch), but wasn’t actually penned by him. Scholars widely agree it was authored between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, likely by several anonymous Jewish writers.
Despite this, its influence cannot be overstated.
Enoch provides a window into Second Temple Jewish beliefs—the very ideas circulating in the time of Jesus, Peter, and Jude. And it’s one of the boldest attempts in ancient literature to explain what exactly went wrong before the flood.
Enoch and the Watchers: A Retelling of Genesis 6
At the heart of the Book of Enoch is a dramatic expansion of Genesis 6:1–4, a passage that has puzzled readers for generations:
“The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose… The Nephilim were on the earth in those days…” (Genesis 6:2, 4)
Enoch doesn’t just echo this account. It explodes it into a full narrative, rich with supernatural detail.
According to Enoch, a group of angels known as the Watchers—described as “sons of heaven”—looked down from above and were drawn to the beauty of human women. Led by an angel named Semjâzâ, they swore an oath together, descended to earth, and took wives.
This act, the book claims, violated divine boundaries. These heavenly beings were never meant to reproduce. Yet they did—and the results were terrifying.
1 Enoch 6–7 (Paraphrased):
The angels bound themselves by oath atop Mount Hermon. Two hundred descended. They took wives, taught them forbidden arts, and had children who grew into violent giants—the Nephilim.
The Nephilim, Enoch says, were enormous—so large they consumed all the food available and then turned to devouring humans, animals, and each other. The earth itself cried out under the weight of their corruption.
The Sin of the Angels and Birth of the Nephilim
The story continues in vivid and disturbing detail.
These fallen angels didn’t just have children—they also introduced forbidden knowledge. According to Enoch:
- Azazel taught warfare, weapon-making, and cosmetics.
- Others taught astrology, root-cutting, magic, and how to manipulate creation.
The result? A world turned upside down—full of violence, spiritual corruption, and the breakdown of divine order. Humanity was caught in the crossfire.
1 Enoch 8–9 (Paraphrased):
“Much blood was shed… lawlessness increased… the cry of the people reached heaven.”
In response, God sends archangels—Michael, Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel—to report what’s happening. They appeal to God for justice. And God responds.
He commands:
- The binding of Azazel in the desert.
- The destruction of the Nephilim through infighting and judgment.
- The imprisonment of the Watchers “for seventy generations” until the day of final judgment.
It’s a story of supernatural rebellion, cosmic justice, and a world that becomes so corrupt that only a global flood can cleanse it.
What Happens to the Watchers and Giants?
The Book of Enoch doesn’t stop with judgment. It builds a theology around what happens after the flood too.
The fallen angels, now imprisoned, beg Enoch to intercede for them. They plead for forgiveness. But God rejects their petition.
1 Enoch 13–16 (Paraphrased):
“You should be interceding for humans—not the other way around,” God tells them.
These angels, once immortal and holy, traded their place in heaven for fleshly desire. There would be no peace, no forgiveness.
God also reveals something shocking: the spirits of the dead Nephilim, who were born from these unnatural unions, become evil spirits—what later Jewish traditions and even early Christians would associate with demons.
“The spirits of the giants… shall be called evil spirits upon the earth.” (1 Enoch 15:9)
This is the book’s most lasting theological claim:
- The Watchers are bound and awaiting judgment.
- Their offspring, the Nephilim, are destroyed in the flood.
- Their spirits remain, afflicting humanity.
It’s an origin story for evil spirits. And one that shaped Jewish thought for centuries.
Why Scholars Reject Enoch as Scripture
Despite its powerful storytelling and deep cultural impact, the Book of Enoch is not Scripture.
Here’s why scholars—and the historic church—don’t accept it as canonical:
1. False Authorship (Pseudepigraphy)
Enoch didn’t write this. The book claims to record his visions, but it was composed over 3–4 centuries, long after his lifetime. Multiple authors likely contributed, blending apocalyptic themes with folk legend.
2. Contradictions with Scripture
Enoch expands biblical themes in ways that often conflict with the Bible’s tone and message. It sensationalizes Genesis 6 into something more mythological than theological.
3. No Support from Most Jewish or Christian Communities
Neither Jesus nor the apostles treated Enoch as inspired Scripture. It’s absent from both the Hebrew Bible and the vast majority of Christian Bibles (except the Ethiopian Orthodox canon).
4. Confusion About Genre
Is it prophecy? History? Allegory? Enoch blends all three—and more. This makes its theological authority murky.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s useless.
How Enoch Influenced Early Christian Thought
Even though the Book of Enoch wasn’t canonized, it made a profound impact on early Christian imagination—especially when grappling with sin, angels, judgment, and spiritual warfare.
Church fathers like Tertullian, Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, and Irenaeus referenced it. Some even treated it as reliable history—especially its account of the Watchers and the origin of demons.
Why?
Because Enoch’s themes echoed many New Testament concerns:
- The seriousness of rebellion among spiritual beings
- God’s justice against the corrupting powers of the unseen realm
- The idea that spiritual evil isn’t just abstract—it has a backstory
More importantly, the New Testament seems to allude directly to Enochian themes.
Did the New Testament Writers Quote Enoch?
Yes. And no.
There’s one clear quotation, and several possible allusions.
1. Jude 14–15 directly quotes 1 Enoch 1:9:
“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all…”
This is not a paraphrase. Jude quotes Enoch word-for-word—and even names him.
Does this mean Jude saw Enoch as Scripture? Not necessarily. Paul quoted pagan poets (Acts 17:28). Jude may be using a known text to make a point—not endorsing the whole book.
2. 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 reference angelic imprisonment:
“God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartarus…” (2 Peter 2:4)
“Angels who did not stay within their position of authority… he has kept in eternal chains…” (Jude 6)
These passages echo Enoch’s account more than Genesis. The Bible doesn’t mention angels being imprisoned in Genesis 6—but Enoch does, in detail.
This shows that Peter and Jude were aware of Enoch, and that their audiences likely were too.
Should Christians Read the Book of Enoch?
This is one of the most common—and important—questions.
The answer is: Yes—but with care.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- It’s not Scripture. Don’t treat it as equal to Genesis, Psalms, or the Gospels. It was never affirmed by Jesus, the apostles, or the early councils of the church (with rare exception).
- It is a window into the worldview of Second Temple Judaism—the cultural backdrop of Jesus and the apostles.
- It helps explain certain biblical allusions, especially in Jude and 2 Peter.
- It shows how ancient Jews wrestled with evil, spiritual rebellion, and God’s justice.
If you read it, do so the way you’d read something like the Pilgrim’s Progress or Josephus—as something historically meaningful, not divinely inspired.
“Enoch teaches us what some Jews believed about Genesis 6—not what God declared about it.”
For believers chasing the Nephilim story and the mystery of the Watchers, Enoch is essential background reading—but it must always point us back to the Word of God.
Watch & Explore: Top Videos on the Enoch Tradition
These videos do a great job unpacking what Enoch says and how it connects with biblical theology. We’ve selected these for clarity, biblical grounding, and balance.
📺 Dr. Michael Heiser on the Book of Enoch
📺 The Book of Enoch Explained
📺 Why the Book of Enoch Was Removed
📺 Was Enoch Quoted in the Bible?
📺 Azazel, the Watchers, and the Nephilim
Final Thoughts: What the Enoch Story Reminds Us
The Book of Enoch may not be Scripture—but it reminds us of something deeply scriptural: the world is a battleground. Sin isn’t just human. Evil runs deep—even among the spiritual hosts.
Genesis 6 gives us four mysterious verses. Enoch fills in the gaps with imagination, drama, and ancient theology. But only the Bible tells the true story of how God restores what’s broken.
Let Enoch drive you back to Scripture. Let it deepen your hunger to understand spiritual realities. And let it stir awe in the God who judges justly—and saves completely.
“For God did not spare angels when they sinned… but He knows how to rescue the godly from trials.”
—2 Peter 2:4, 9
