Adam אָדָם

Male Early Patriarch H0121G 10 books

The first man, created by God

Who is Adam in the Bible?

Adam is the first man created by God, formed from the dust of the ground with God's breath of life breathed into him on the sixth day of creation (Genesis 2:7). God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and gave him dominion over creation, creating Eve from his rib as a companion (Genesis 2:15-25). When Adam disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he brought sin and death into the world, resulting in his expulsion from Eden and subjection to pain and mortality (Genesis 3:17-24). Adam fathered children after the Fall, beginning the lineage of humanity (Genesis 5:3-5), and his story becomes the foundation for understanding humanity's fallen condition. Theologically, Adam's disobedience is contrasted with Christ, called the "last Adam," whose obedience and resurrection offer redemption and restoration to all who believe.

Biography

Adam was the first man, created by God on the sixth day of creation (Gen.1.26-27). He was formed from the dust of the ground, and God breathed life into him, making him a living being (Gen.2.7). God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it, and He created Eve, the first woman, from Adam's rib as a companion for him (Gen.2.15-25).

God allowed Adam to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that eating from this tree would lead to death (Gen.2.16-17). However, Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent and disobeyed God, eating the forbidden fruit (Gen.3.1-6). As a consequence, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and subjected to death, pain, and hardship (Gen.3.16-24).

After the fall, Adam and Eve had several children, including Cain, Abel, and Seth (Gen.4.1-2, 25). Adam lived for 930 years and died (Gen.5.5), but his legacy as the first man and the progenitor of the human race continued throughout the Bible.

In the New Testament, Adam is contrasted with Christ, who is referred to as the "last Adam" (1Co.15.45). While Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world, Christ's obedience and sacrifice brought righteousness and life (Rom.5.12-21). The apostle Paul teaches that all people die because of their connection to Adam, but those who are in Christ will be made alive at the resurrection (1Co.15.22).

Adam's creation, fall, and redemption through Christ are central themes in the biblical narrative, highlighting God's plan to restore humanity's relationship with Him and the ultimate victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.

Family

In Scripture

10 biblical books ; 8 with study content
Genesis 5 verses
  • Genesis 2:20

    "The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found."

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  • Genesis 3:17

    "And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life."

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  • Genesis 3:21

    "And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them."

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  • Genesis 4:25

    "And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”"

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  • Genesis 5:1

    "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness."

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1 Chronicles 1 verse
  • 1 Chronicles 1:1

    "Adam, Seth, Enosh,"

Job 1 verse
  • Job 31:33

    "if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,"

Hosea 1 verse
  • Hosea 6:7

    "But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me."

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Deuteronomy 1 verse
  • Deuteronomy 32:8

    "When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God."

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Luke 1 verse
  • Luke 3:38

    "the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Transliteration Meaning
Named Hebrew אָדָם
(same form as previous) Hebrew אָדָם
Spelled Hebrew הָאָדָם ʾādām ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
(same form as previous) Hebrew הָאָדָם ʾādām ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
(same form as previous) Hebrew הָאָדָם ʾādām ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
(same form as previous) Hebrew הָאָדָם ʾādām ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
(same form as previous) Hebrew הָאָדָם ʾādām ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind , etc.)
Greek Greek Ἀδάμ Adám Adam, the first man; typically (of Jesus) man (as his representative)