אָדֹם (a.dom)
a.dom
red; red stuff
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word adom simply means "red" or "ruddy." It is an adjective used to describe a wide variety of objects and people in the Old Testament, ranging from Esau’s skin tone to the color of lentils, horses, garments, and even water. Its basic function is visual identification, pointing to a specific hue found throughout nature and daily life.
While primarily descriptive, the word carries significant narrative weight when applied to people. It famously describes Esau as "ruddy," linking his physical appearance to his name and his identity as Edom’s ancestor (Genesis 25:25). This usage highlights how ancient Hebrew often connected personal names with distinctive physical traits or life circumstances.
The term also appears in poetic contexts, such as Song of Solomon, where it describes the beloved’s complexion, adding a layer of vivid imagery to the love poetry. In Zechariah, it colors the vision of horses, contributing to the symbolic landscape of the prophet’s dream. The word remains grounded in concrete observation rather than abstract metaphor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word adom simply means red or ruddy, describing a vivid hue found in nature and daily life. It paints pictures of Esau’s skin, the color of lentils, or the shade of horses in a prophetic vision. This grounding in concrete observation reminds us that God cares about the physical world and the specific details of our existence.
In Scripture, this color often carries narrative weight beyond mere description. When applied to people, like Esau or the beloved in Song of Solomon, it links identity with appearance. In prophetic visions, red horses or garments signal divine action or judgment. These images invite us to see how God uses tangible realities to communicate spiritual truths.
Reflecting on adom encourages appreciation for the richness of creation and the stories embedded in language. It shows that even simple words can hold deep significance, pointing to who we are and how God interacts with history. This awareness fosters a deeper connection to the text and the world around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- red5×
- the/ red [stew]2×
- and/ ruddy1×
- [does] redness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אָד֔וֹם1×
- הָ/אָדֹם֙1×
- הָ/אָדֹ֤ם1×
- אָדֹ֖ם1×
- אָדֹ֔ם1×
- אֲדֻמָּ֜ה1×
- אֲדֻמִּ֥ים1×
- אֲדֻמִּ֔ים1×
- אֲדֻמִּ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 25:30
Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with some of that red stew, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
This verse connects Esau's physical description to his name Edom, showing how Hebrew links identity with tangible traits.
-
Numbers 19:2
“This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded. Tell the children of Israel to bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no defect, and which was never yoked.
The red heifer’s specific coloration is central to its ritual purity and symbolic role in cleansing laws.
-
Isaiah 63:2
Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?
Red garments here symbolize divine judgment through the imagery of treading the wine vat, linking color to action.