Lexical Summary adam: Man, mankind, human, Adam Original Word: אָדָם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance another, hypocrite, common sort, low, man mean, of low degree, person From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) -- X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person. see HEBREW 'adam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition man, mankind NASB Translation any man (2), anyone (4), anyone's (1), being* (1), common sort* (1), human (19), infantry (1), low degree* (1), low* (1), man (363), man's (20), man* (1), mankind (9), men (104), men of low degree* (1), men's (3), men* (4), mortal (1), one (3), people (1), person (5), person* (1), persons (3), population (1), someone (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָדָם560 noun masculineGenesis 1:27 man, mankind (Phoenician אדם, Sabean id., CISiv.1,l.4 and others; compare Assyrian admu, young (of bird) DlW, but NöZMG 1886, 722 identification with Arabic  collective creatures) — Singular absolute except construct Proverbs 6:12 compare Thes; (׳בְּנֵי (הָ)א often = plural of ׳א Genesis 11:5 39t., compare ׳בְּנוֺת הָא Genesis 6:2,4) — 1 a man (= German Mensch) = human being Genesis 2:5,7 (twice in verse); Genesis 2:8,15,16,18 +, Genesis 16:12 (27 t. J) Leviticus 5:4 "" נֶמֶּשׁ Leviticus 13:2,9 (19 t. P) Nehemiah 2:10; Isaiah 13:12 ("" אֱנוֺשׁ); הַגָּדוֺל ׳הָאָ Joshua 14:15 (E); בְּלִיַּעַל ׳אָ Proverbs 6:12 ("" אִישׁ אָוֶן compare 1 Samuel 25:25 & see בליעל); = any one Leviticus 1:2; Numbers 9:6,7; Job 20:29; Job 27:13; Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 21:16,20; Proverbs 24:30; Ecclesiastes 7:20 + often Wisdom Literature, Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 4:25; Nehemiah 2:12, compare ׳נֶמֶּשׁ א Numbers 19:11,13 +; seldom man opposed to woman Genesis 2:22 (twice in verse); Genesis 2:23,25; Genesis 3:8,12,17,20,21; Ecclesiastes 7:28. 2 collective man, mankind Genesis 1:26; Genesis 9:5,6 (3 t. in verse) + (P 28 t.) Genesis 6:1,5,6,7 (J E 24 t.) Deuteronomy 4:32 (D 6 t.) (on 2 Samuel 7:19 compare 1 Chronicles 17:17 see DrSm); distinctly = men + women Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:1; Numbers 5:6; given as name Genesis 5:2; but = warriors Isaiah 22:6 ׳רֶכֶב א "" (מּרשׁיםׅ; "" beasts (41 t.) בְּהֵמָה Genesis 6:7; Genesis 7:23 (J ?) Exodus 8:13; Exodus 8:14; Exodus 9:9,10 (P) Exodus 9:19,22,25; Exodus 12:12; Exodus 13:2,13,15 (all J) +; late prophets Jeremiah 21:6; Jeremiah 31:27; Jeremiah 50:3; Jeremiah 51:62; Ezekiel 14:13,17,19,21; Ezekiel 25:13; Ezekiel 29:8,11; Ezekiel 32:13 (strike out Co) Ezekiel 36:11; Jonah 3:8; Zephaniah 1:3; Haggai 1:11; Zechariah 2:8; Zechariah 8:10; "" בָּקָר Ezekiel 4:15; "" צֹאן, חֲמֹרִים ׳ב Numbers 31:28; "" id. + מִכָּלהַֿבְּהֵמָה Numbers 31:30 compare Jonah 3:7; "" חַיָּה Genesis 9:5 (P) compare Ezekiel 1:5,8,10,26, & description of כְּרוּבִים Ezekiel 10:8,14,21; compare Ezekiel 41:19; "" trees Deuteronomy 20:19 (read הֶאָדָם see Di); opposed to God 1 Samuel 15:29; 1 Samuel 16:7 (twice in verse); Isaiah 31:3; Ezekiel 28:2,9; 1 Chronicles 21:13; 1 Chronicles 29:1; 2Chronicles 6:18; Malachi 3:8 compare Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 5:21; so ׳בֶּןאֿ Numbers 23:19 ("" אישׁ) Ezekiel 2:1,3,6,8 (87 t. Ezekiel, always addressed to prophet); בְּנֵי ׳הָא 1 Samuel 26:19; made in God's image Genesis 1:26,27; Genesis 9:6 compare Ecclesiastes 7:29; as feeble, earthly, mortal Numbers 16:29 (twice in verse); Psalm 82:7; Psalm 144:3; Psalm 144:4; Job 5:7; Job 14:1,10; compare Job 25:6 (׳בֶּןאֿ) Ecclesiastes 12:5; as sinful 1 Kings 8:46; 2Chronicles 6:36; Jeremiah 10:14 compare Numbers 5:6; Job 31:33; Hosea 6:7; of men in General, other men (opposed to particular ones) Judges 16:17 (compare ׳אַחַד הָא Judges 16:7; Judges 16:11) Judges 18:7,28; Psalm 73:5; Jeremiah 32:20 +; "" אִישׁ Isaiah 2:9,11,17; Isaiah 5:15 compare Ezekiel 23:42 (strike out Co Vrss); ׳בְּנֵי א 2 Samuel 7:14 ("" אֲנָשִׁים) Proverbs 8:4 ("" אִישִׁים); Psalm 49:3; Psalm 62:10 (both "" בְּנֵי אִישׁ) = men of low opposed to men of high degree — so often Phoenician and = vassal Sabean DHMZMG 1875, 680 compare 686; ׳נֶפֶשׁ א collective Numbers 31:35,40,46; 1 Chronicles 5:21; Ezekiel 27:13. 3. proper name, masculine Adam, first man (without article, compare שָׂטָן 1 Chronicles 21:1 over ag. ׳הַשּׂ Job 1:6 etc.) Genesis 4:25 (J) Genesis 5:1,3,4,5 (P) 1 Chronicles 1:1. (Genesis 2:20; 1 Chronicles 3:17,21 read ׳לָא see Di.) 4. proper name, of a location city in Jordan valley (as built ?) Joshua 3:16. Topical Lexicon Scope of the Termאָמָד (ʾāḏām) is used approximately 552 times in the Hebrew canon to denote humankind—whether an individual, the collective race, or, in a limited number of contexts, the first man Adam. The contexts range from legal codes and genealogies to psalms, proverbs, prophetic oracles, and historical narratives. Its flexibility allows Scripture to speak both of the dignity bestowed on humanity and of humanity’s frailty and sin. Creation and Divine Image From the opening chapters of Genesis, אָדָם is inseparably linked to the truth that humanity is created by God and bears His image. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image’ … So God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:26-27). The term underlines that humanity is a single family, male and female, endowed with rationality, moral capacity, and stewardship authority: “The LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). The first appearance of אָדָם thus grounds the biblical doctrines of human dignity, work, marriage, and dominion. Universal Solidarity and Responsibility Because all people share this one designation, Scripture repeatedly uses אָדָם to emphasize the unity of the race and the obligation to love neighbor and stranger alike. Leviticus 19:18 calls every Israelite to love “your neighbor as yourself,” and Leviticus 19:34 extends the same ethic to the sojourner. Job appeals to their common humanity when he says, “Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One form us both in the womb?” (Job 31:15). Sin and Mortality Genesis 3 traces the entrance of sin and death into the human experience. Romans 5:12 later reflects on this, but the Old Testament itself already presents the consequence: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). The collective name אָדָם becomes a reminder that the entire race is now under the sentence of death. Psalm 90:3 echoes the verdict: “You return man to dust, saying, ‘Return, O sons of men.’” Covenantal and Redemptive Dimensions Humanity’s fall does not annul God’s covenant purposes. After the flood, God speaks to Noah and his sons as representatives of all mankind: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God has God made man” (Genesis 9:6). The Abrahamic promise that “all the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3) presupposes that every אָדָם stands within the scope of God’s redemptive plan. Humanity in Wisdom Literature Wisdom texts often juxtapose human transience with divine eternity: “What is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). Ecclesiastes explores the limitations of human achievement: “For what does a man gain for all his labor …? All go to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust” (Ecclesiastes 3:9, 20). Yet, even here, hope remains: “He has set eternity in their hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Prophetic Use The prophets use אָדָם to expose human pride and call for repentance. Isaiah declares, “Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2:22). Jeremiah warns, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jeremiah 17:5), contrasting human weakness with the security found in the LORD. Ezekiel, while often addressed as “son of man” (a different but related expression), also assures restored fellowship: “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture, and you are men; I am your God” (Ezekiel 34:31). Liturgical and Poetic Expressions In worship, the psalmists confess both dependence and privilege. Psalm 144:3 laments, “O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?” yet Psalm 8:5 proclaims, “You have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.” Corporate laments such as Psalm 90 and communal praise such as Psalm 103 leverage אָדָם to unite worshipers in shared mortality and redeeming hope. Contrasts with God One frequent rhetorical device is to place אָדָם beside the personal name Yahweh to highlight divine transcendence. Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not a man, that He should lie.” Hosea 11:9 similarly records the LORD’s mercy: “I will not come in wrath, for I am God and not a man.” Messianic Anticipation Prophecies of a coming Redeemer often arise against the backdrop of human insufficiency. Isaiah 52:14-53:12 presents the Servant who will act on behalf of many “men.” Daniel 7:13 introduces “One like a Son of Man,” hinting at a representative figure who will restore what the first אָדָם forfeited. New Testament Connections While Greek ἄνθρωπος takes over the vocabulary, the apostolic writers rely on the Old Testament’s theology of אָדָם. 1 Corinthians 15:45 contrasts “the first man, Adam” with “the last Adam,” affirming Christ as the head of a new humanity. Hebrews 2:6-9 quotes Psalm 8 to demonstrate how Jesus fulfills humanity’s intended destiny. Ministry Implications 1. Dignity: Every person bears God’s image; ministry must honor life from conception to death (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9). Key Representative References Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:19; 6:5-7; 9:6 Exodus 4:11; 18:21 Deuteronomy 8:3; 17:9 Job 7:17; 14:1-2; 31:15 Psalm 8:4-6; 90:3-6; 103:14-16; 144:3-4 Proverbs 12:3; 20:24 Isaiah 2:22; 6:5; 17:7; 66:2 Jeremiah 17:5; 32:30 Forms and Transliterations אָ֝דָ֗ם אָ֠דָם אָ֤דָֽם־ אָ֫דָ֥ם אָ֭דָם אָדָ֑ם אָדָ֓ם ׀ אָדָ֔ם אָדָ֕ם אָדָ֖ם אָדָ֗ם אָדָ֛ם אָדָ֜ם אָדָ֞ם אָדָ֡ם אָדָ֣ם אָדָ֤ם אָדָ֥ם אָדָ֬ם אָדָֽם׃ אָדָם֒ אָדָם֙ אָדָם֮ אָדָם׃ אדם אדם־ אדם׃ בְּאָדָ֑ם בְּאָדָ֖ם בְּאָדָ֥ם בְאָדָם֙ בָּֽאָדָ֔ם בָּֽאָדָ֖ם בָּאָדָ֑ם בָּאָדָ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם בָּאָדָ֥ם בָּאָדָֽם׃ בָּאָדָם֙ בָֽאָדָם֙ באדם באדם׃ הָ֝אָדָ֗ם הָ֠אָדָם הָ֣אָדָ֔ם הָ֭אָדָם הָֽאָדָ֑ם הָֽאָדָ֔ם הָֽאָדָ֖ם הָֽאָדָ֗ם הָֽאָדָ֛ם הָֽאָדָ֜ם הָֽאָדָֽם׃ הָֽאָדָם֒ הָֽאָדָם֙ הָאָ֫דָ֥ם הָאָדָ֑ם הָאָדָ֔ם הָאָדָ֖ם הָאָדָ֗ם הָאָדָ֛ם הָאָדָ֜ם הָאָדָ֞ם הָאָדָ֡ם הָאָדָ֣ם הָאָדָ֤ם הָאָדָ֥ם הָאָדָ֧ם הָאָדָ֨ם הָאָדָֽם׃ הָאָדָם֙ האדם האדם׃ וְ֝אָדָ֗ם וְאָדָ֖ם וְאָדָ֣ם וְאָדָֽם׃ וְאָדָם֙ וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם וּבְאָדָ֥ם וּבָֽאָדָ֑ם וּלְאָדָ֕ם וּלְאָדָ֞ם ואדם ואדם׃ ובאדם והאדם ולאדם כְּאָדָ֣ם כאדם לְאָדָ֔ם לְאָדָ֛ם לְאָדָ֣ם לְאָדָ֥ם לְאָדָ֧ם לְאָדָם֙ לְמֵאָדָ֖ם לָֽאָדָ֑ם לָֽאָדָ֔ם לָֽאָדָ֗ם לָֽאָדָ֜ם לָֽאָדָם֒ לָֽאָדָם֙ לָאָדָ֖ם לָאָדָ֗ם לָאָדָֽם׃ לאדם לאדם׃ למאדם מֵ֝אָדָ֗ם מֵֽאָדָ֑ם מֵֽאָדָם֙ מֵאָדָ֖ם מֵאָדָ֣ם מֵאָדָ֤ם מֵאָדָ֥ם מֵאָדָֽם׃ מאדם מאדם׃ ’ā·ḏām ’ā·ḏām- ’āḏām ’āḏām- aDam Adom bā’āḏām ḇā’āḏām bā·’ā·ḏām ḇā·’ā·ḏām baaDam bə’āḏām ḇə’āḏām bə·’ā·ḏām ḇə·’ā·ḏām beaDam hā’āḏām hā·’ā·ḏām haaDam Haadom kə’āḏām kə·’ā·ḏām keaDam lā’āḏām lā·’ā·ḏām laaDam lə’āḏām lə·’ā·ḏām lə·mê·’ā·ḏām leaDam ləmê’āḏām lemeaDam mê’āḏām mê·’ā·ḏām meaDam ū·ḇā·’ā·ḏām ū·ḇə·’ā·ḏām ū·lə·’ā·ḏām ūḇā’āḏām ūḇə’āḏām ūlə’āḏām uleaDam uvaaDam uveaDam vaaDam veaDam veHaaDam wə’āḏām wə·’ā·ḏām wə·hā·’ā·ḏām wəhā’āḏāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 1:26 HEB: אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ NAS: Let Us make man in Our image, KJV: Let us make man in our image, INT: God make man our image to our likeness Genesis 1:27 Genesis 2:5 Genesis 2:7 Genesis 2:7 Genesis 2:8 Genesis 2:15 Genesis 2:16 Genesis 2:18 Genesis 2:19 Genesis 2:19 Genesis 2:20 Genesis 2:20 Genesis 2:21 Genesis 2:22 Genesis 2:22 Genesis 2:23 Genesis 2:25 Genesis 3:8 Genesis 3:9 Genesis 3:12 Genesis 3:20 Genesis 3:21 Genesis 3:22 Genesis 3:24 552 Occurrences |
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