Ἀδάμ (Adam)
Adam
Adam
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Adam, derived from the Hebrew word for ground or earth, appears seven times in the New Testament. It serves as a proper noun identifying the first human being, whose story is foundational to biblical theology. The sources highlight its presence in genealogies (Luke 3:38), theological arguments about sin and grace (Romans 5:14), and discussions on resurrection and creation order (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13-14; Jude 14).
A key distinction in its usage is the contrast between Adam as the representative of humanity’s fallen state and Christ as the "last Adam." In 1 Corinthians 15:45, this title emphasizes Jesus’ role in bringing spiritual life, paralleling but surpassing the physical life given through the first man. This typological reading allows early Christians to connect the creation narrative with the gospel message, showing how Christ restores what was lost.
The name’s simplicity underscores its weight: it is not just a historical figure but a theological symbol. By referencing Adam, writers like Paul and Luke anchor their arguments in the shared understanding of human origins. This connection reinforces the idea that all people are united in both mortality and the hope of redemption through Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Adam, meaning 'ground' or 'earth,' reminds us that we are made from dust yet held by God. In Luke’s genealogy, listing Adam as the son of God places every human being under divine care, regardless of our history. This simple fact grounds our identity in God’s creative love rather than our own achievements.
Paul uses this connection to show how deeply we are linked. When he writes that 'in Adam all die,' he acknowledges the reality of brokenness and mortality we share. Yet this is not the end of the story. The same apostle points to Christ as the 'last Adam,' who brings life where the first man brought death.
Understanding this link helps us see our place in God’s plan. We are not isolated individuals but part of a human family that needs redemption. Through Christ, the life lost in Eden is restored, offering hope that extends beyond our earthly days to eternal communion with God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Adam7×
- of Adam2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἀδὰμ9×
Key Verses
-
Romans 5:14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.
This verse establishes Adam as a 'foreshadowing' of Christ, showing how his disobedience set the stage for grace.
-
I Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
Here Paul contrasts the universal death inherited from Adam with the universal life offered through Christ.
-
I Corinthians 15:45
So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
The title 'last Adam' highlights Jesus’ role as a life-giving spirit, surpassing the physical life of the first man.
-
Luke 3:38
the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Placing Adam as the 'son of God' in the genealogy underscores that all humanity originates from and belongs to God.