What does עָשָׂה · אָדָם · אֱלֹהִים mean in the Bible?
עָשָׂה · אָדָם · אֱלֹהִים is a Hebrew phrase meaning "humans making gods".
Hebrew · H6213, H120, H430
יַעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ אָדָם אֱלֹהִים
To do or make , in the broadest sense and widest application · ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.) · gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God ; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates ; and sometimes as a superlative
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
עָשָׂהH6213to do or make , in the broadest sense and widest application
Pronunciationasah
Broadest action verb in Hebrew; encompasses creation, covenant-making, and moral conduct—God's primary verb for purposeful activity.
Open lexicon entry →אָדָםH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
Pronunciationʾādām
Humanity defined by earthly origin: from dust (ʾădāmâ), emphasizing creatureliness and mortality rather than divinity.
Open lexicon entry →אֱלֹהִיםH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God ; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates ; and sometimes as a superlative
Pronunciationʾĕlōhiym
Plural form persistently denotes the singular God of Israel; signals transcendent power and authority in every application.
Open lexicon entry →What does יַעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ אָדָם אֱלֹהִים (yaaseh-lo adam elohim) mean in the Bible?
עָשָׂה · אָדָם · אֱלֹהִים is a Hebrew phrase meaning "humans making gods".
Full entry for יַעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ אָדָם אֱלֹהִים (H6213, H120, H430) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H6213, H120, H430?
H6213, H120, H430 is connected to 5,792 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. humans making gods
Source Gloss
humans making gods
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms1564
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1477×
Perfect1Chr 11:24 · 1Chr 16:12 · 1Chr 16:26 · 1Chr 18:8 · 1Chr 19:2 · 1Chr 21:29 · 1Kgs 2:5 · 1Kgs 2:24 · 1Kgs 6:31 · 1Kgs 6:33 · 1Kgs 7:6 · 1Kgs 7:7 · 1Kgs 7:16 · 1Kgs 7:18 · 1Kgs 7:37 · 1Kgs 7:40725×
Imperfect1Kgs 2:3 · 1Kgs 2:7 · 1Kgs 2:9 · 1Kgs 5:23 · 1Kgs 6:12 · 1Kgs 20:22 · 1Kgs 21:7 · 1Sam 10:8 · 1Sam 16:3 · 1Sam 20:14 · 1Sam 26:25 · 1Sam 29:7 · 2Kgs 5:13 · 2Kgs 8:12 · Deut 5:8 · Deut 5:14437×
Participle active1Chr 18:14 · 1Chr 22:15 · 1Chr 23:24 · 1Chr 27:26 · 1Kgs 11:28 · 1Kgs 12:21 · 1Kgs 20:40 · 1Sam 3:11 · 1Sam 8:8 · 1Sam 12:16 · 2Chr 11:1 · 2Chr 19:6 · 2Chr 24:12 · 2Chr 24:13 · 2Chr 26:11 · 2Chr 26:13183×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 17:2 · 1Kgs 2:31 · 1Kgs 20:24 · 1Sam 10:7 · 1Sam 14:7 · 1Sam 14:36 · 1Sam 14:40 · 2Chr 25:8 · 2Kgs 10:5 · 2Sam 7:3 · Dan 1:13 · Eccl 9:10 · Exod 32:1 · Exod 32:23 · Ezek 7:23 · Ezek 12:359×
Jussive1Kgs 2:23 · 1Sam 3:17 · 1Sam 14:44 · 1Sam 20:13 · 1Sam 25:22 · 2Kgs 6:31 · 2Sam 2:6 · 2Sam 3:9 · 2Sam 3:35 · 2Sam 15:26 · 2Sam 19:14 · Num 15:14 · Ruth 1:8 · 2Sam 13:12 · Gen 22:12 · Jer 39:1225×
Infinitive construct2Kgs 17:15 · Amos 3:10 · Eccl 12:12 · Ezek 25:12 · Ezek 25:15 · Ezek 33:15 · Gen 2:4 · Gen 31:28 · Gen 50:20 · Isa 7:22 · Isa 58:13 · Jer 7:10 · Jer 17:24 · Job 42:8 · Judg 8:3 · Lev 18:3024×
Infinitive absolute1Sam 25:28 · 1Sam 26:25 · 2Kgs 3:16 · 2Sam 9:7 · Ezek 23:30 · Ezek 31:11 · Jer 4:18 · Jer 7:5 · Jer 22:4 · Jer 44:17 · Jer 44:25 · Prov 23:512×
Participle passive1Sam 25:18 · Ezek 21:20 · Ezek 40:17 · Ezek 41:19 · Ezek 41:20 · Ezek 41:25 · Ezek 46:23 · Ps 111:89×
Cohortative2Kgs 4:10 · Josh 22:26 · Mic 1:83×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action84×
Imperfect1Sam 11:7 · 1Sam 17:26 · 1Sam 17:27 · 2Kgs 12:14 · 2Sam 13:12 · Deut 25:9 · Esth 2:11 · Esth 6:9 · Esth 6:11 · Exod 2:4 · Exod 12:16 · Exod 21:31 · Exod 31:15 · Ezek 12:11 · Ezek 15:5 · Ezek 44:1448×
Perfect1Kgs 10:20 · 2Chr 9:19 · 2Chr 35:18 · 2Chr 35:19 · 2Kgs 23:22 · 2Kgs 23:23 · Eccl 1:13 · Eccl 4:3 · Eccl 8:9 · Eccl 8:11 · Eccl 8:14 · Eccl 8:16 · Eccl 8:17 · Eccl 9:3 · Eccl 9:6 · Esth 4:133×
Participle passiveEccl 4:1 · Neh 5:182×
JussiveEzra 10:31×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
PerfectEzek 23:3 · Ezek 23:82×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
PerfectPs 139:151×
Word Origins
יַעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ אָדָם אֱלֹהִים is a primitive root - no further derivation.