אֲדַמְדָּם (a.dam.dam)
a.dam.dam
reddish
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective adamdam describes a specific shade of red, often translated as "reddish" or "ruddy." It appears only six times in the Old Testament, with the majority of occurrences found in Leviticus. In these passages, the word is used to describe the appearance of skin conditions, specifically noting when a sore or lesion has turned red.
Its meaning is closely tied to its root, adam, which means "red" or "blood." This linguistic connection highlights the visual nature of the term; it does not refer to moral guilt but to physical discoloration. The sources indicate that this word helps distinguish between different stages or types of skin afflictions in the purity laws, providing precise medical detail for the priests who diagnosed these conditions.
While the word shares a root with names like Adam (meaning "man" or "earth"), its usage here is strictly descriptive. It serves as a technical term in the ritual code, ensuring that the community could identify specific signs of impurity. The precision of this vocabulary underscores the careful attention to physical detail required in the Levitical system.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word adamdam describes a specific shade of redness, often appearing in pairs like "reddish-white" to capture subtle changes in skin or fabric. In Leviticus, this precise terminology helped priests distinguish between harmless marks and conditions requiring separation. It was not a judgment on character, but a practical tool for maintaining community health and ritual purity.
For your faith life, this attention to detail reminds us that God cares about the physical realities of our existence. Just as the ancient Israelites were guided by clear signs, we are invited to seek wisdom in recognizing the subtle shifts in our own lives. These moments, whether they signal healing or a need for caution, are opportunities to trust in divine guidance.
Ultimately, these laws pointed toward a deeper need for cleansing that went beyond the physical body. They prepared the people for a time when true purity would be found not in external marks, but in the heart. This ancient vocabulary invites us to look closely at our own condition with honesty and hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- reddish6×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲדַמְדָּ֗ם1×
- אֲדַמְדָּ֑מֶת1×
- אֲדַמְדָּ֑ם1×
- אֲדַמְדַּמֹּ֑ת1×
- אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת1×
- אֲדַמְדֶּ֔מֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 13:19
and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest.
This verse uses the term to describe a bright spot that is reddish-white, showing how the word helps distinguish a new lesion from a healed one.
-
Leviticus 13:42
But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead.
Here the reddish-white plague appears on bald areas, indicating that the condition can spread even where hair does not grow, requiring careful priestly examination.
-
Leviticus 13:49
if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest.
The word extends beyond human skin to describe reddish discoloration in garments, demonstrating that impurity could affect daily objects and clothing as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where else does this word appear?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 1 books)
Leviticus 6 verses
and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the…
Leviticus 13:24“Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white,…
Leviticus 13:42But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or…
Leviticus 13:43Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his…
Leviticus 13:49if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything…
Leviticus 14:37He shall examine the plague; and behold, if the plague is in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or…