Genesis 2:7 – Play upon words Man-Adam-dyed red
The Hebrew word ‘adam’ is used with different meanings.
(translation according to the O.L.B.)
The Hebrew word ‘adam’.
The Hebrew word ‘adam’ is a verb, which can be translate, among other things, as red – reddish – dyed red – having become red.
Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather. (Exodus 26:14)
The O.L.B. indicates that the following words are derived from ‘adam’ as a verb:
- ‘adam’ as a noun: which can be translated as man, humanity, Adam.
- ‘adam’ as a personal name: which can be translated as Adam = ‘red’, the first man.
Strong’s gives the following numerical codes to ‘adam’:
- As a verb – 0119.
- as a noun – 0120.
- as a personal name – 0121.
Translation in the NIV.
As a verb (0119), ‘adam’ is translated as: (all the verses)
- dyed red – Exodus 25:5 / 26:14 / 35:7 / 35:23 / 36:19 / 39:34.
- red – Proverbs 23:31,
- are red – Isaiah 1:18.
- more ruddy (physically) – Lamentations 4:7.
- are red (colour) – Nahum 2:3.
As a noun (0120), ‘adam’ is translated as: (526 texts)
- man, people.
- in combinations, among others: the children of men (0120 people and 01121 sons).
- Adam (as a personal name) – only in Genesis 4:25
As a personal name (0121) ‘adam’ is translated as: (all the texts)
- Adam – Genesis 3:17 / 5:1 / 5:3 / 5:4 / 5:5 / Joshua 3:16 / 1 Chronicles 1:1.
- the man – Genesis 2:21.
Derived from ‘adam’ as a verb.
The following words are derived from ‘adam’ as a verb:
- ‘adamah’, a noun (cijfercode 0127)
To be translated as: ground – land – a certain piece of land – surface of the earth – the whole populated earth.
(derived therefore from: red – dyed red).
Back to Genesis 2:7.
Then the LORD God formed a man (‘adam’ – 0120) from the dust of the ground (adamah – 0127) and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man (‘adam’ – 0120) became a living being.
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Genesis 2:7 – Play upon words man-Adam-dyed red.