Genesis 5:2 · Bible study
Genesis 5:2 Commentary: Why God Called Both Male and Female 'Adam'
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Genesis 5:2 shows God creating male and female, blessing them, and giving them both the name 'Adam', a profound statement on human unity, equality,
Research Summary
- Meaning: God created humanity as male and female, blessed them, and gave them the shared name “Adam,” emphasizing unity and equality under His creative authority.
- Key words: Adam (humankind, proper name), male, female, blessed, called their name.
- Main debate: Whether the name “Adam” here applies strictly to the first man or to the couple together, most commentators, noting the plural “their name,” see it as inclusive.
- Theological theme: The unity and equality of male and female in God’s original creation, the dignity of marriage, and God’s blessing on human life and fruitfulness.
- Best use: As a foundational text for teaching on marriage, human identity, and the shared image of God in both sexes.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam.
KJV King James Version 1769
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
a male and a female He hath prepared them, and He blesseth them, and calleth their name Man, in the day of their being prepared.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
He created them male and female; and blessed them: and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Varón y hembra los crió; y los bendijo, y llamó el nombre de ellos Adam, el día en que fueron criados.
Macho e fêmea os criou; e os abençoou, e chamou o nome deles Adão, no dia em que foram criados.
Il créa l’ homme et la femme, il les bénit, et il les appela du nom d’ homme, lorsqu’ ils furent créés.
und schuf sie einen Mann und ein Weib und segnete sie und hieß ihren Namen Mensch zur Zeit, da sie geschaffen wurden.
Man en vrouw schiep Hij hen, en zegende ze, en noemde hun naam Mens, ten dage als zij geschapen werden.
li creò maschio e femmina, li benedisse e dette loro il nome di “uomo”, nel giorno che furon creati.
Mężczyznę i niewiastę stworzył je; i błogosławił im, i nazwał imię ich, człowiek, w dzień, którego są stworzeni.
мужчину и женщину сотворил их, и благословил их, и нарек им имя: человек, в день сотворения их.
並且造 男 造女。在他們被造 的日子， 神賜福 給他們，稱 他們為「人」。）
Male and female he made them, naming them Man, and giving them his blessing on the day when they were made.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 5:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse, while recapping Genesis 1:27, 28, adds a significant detail: God himself gives the name “Adam” to both the man and the woman. Calvin notes that Moses “assigns a common name indiscriminately to both, in order that posterity might learn more sacredly to cherish this connection.” Gill observes that the same name is given to Eve because she was made out of the man and united to him in marriage. Wesley adds that, being “at first one by nature, and afterwards one by marriage; it was fit they should both have the same name, in token of their union.” The repetition of the blessing is implied by the genealogy that follows (Cambridge Bible). Thus the verse grounds human dignity in God’s creative act and the shared identity of male and female as jointly called “Adam.”
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God created humanity as male and female, blessed them, and gave them a shared identity, establishing the unity and dignity of both sexes.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of “Adam” in this verse | All traditions recognize that the word can denote both the proper name of the first man and the generic term for humanity. | Some interpreters (noting the LXX reading ‘his name’) take it as a proper name for the man alone, while the majority, following the Hebrew plural ‘their name,’ see God naming the couple together to signify their unity. |
| The significance of God naming them | God’s naming establishes His authority as Creator and defines human identity. The name reminds of humanity’s origin from the ground (adamah). | Calvin emphasizes the union of marriage; Gill stresses physical origin; Wesley highlights the token of unity. The emphasis differs among commentators without contradicting the core meaning. |
| The blessing in light of the fall | The blessing of fruitfulness was given before the fall and continues despite sin, as seen in the genealogy. | Some see the genealogy as evidence of the blessing’s ongoing power, while others note that sin disrupted it, with death entering the record (v. 5). Both agree God’s purpose ultimately prevails. |
| Implications for gender equality | Both male and female share the same human nature and are created in God’s image. | Some Christians use this verse to argue for full equality in all roles, while others point to the marriage union (the woman taking the man’s name) as implying a complementary pattern. The verse itself does not prescribe roles beyond unity. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Genesis chapter 5 opens with the phrase “the book of the generations of Adam.” This title marks a new section in the primeval history, moving from the narratives of creation and fall to a genealogical record connecting Adam to Noah. The chapter traces the line of the godly seed through ten patriarchs (Poole). Verses 1, 2 serve as a heading, recapping the creation account from Genesis 1:26, 28 with added emphasis. In the original narrative (Genesis 1:27), the phrase “male and female he created them” highlights the binary distinction. Here the same words are repeated, but a new element is added: God names them “Adam.”
The Hebrew word adam (H0120) carries a dual meaning. It is the generic term for “humankind,” and it also serves as the proper name of the first man. By giving this name to both, God establishes a shared identity that transcends gender distinction. Calvin notes that after the institution of marriage, “the husband and the wife were like one man.” The naming act, coupled with the blessing, echoes Genesis 1:28 but omits the explicit command “be fruitful and multiply”, though that command is implied by the genealogy that follows (Cambridge Bible). The verse roots the entire genealogical record in God’s original design for humanity: created in His image, blessed, and united under a single name.
Culturally, naming in the ancient Near East signified authority and relationship. When God names them both “Adam,” He asserts His authority as Creator and defines their identity. This stands in contrast to the later fall narrative, where the man names the woman (Genesis 2:23; 3:20). Here, before sin enters, God’s naming stresses the fundamental equality and unity of male and female.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew Masoretic Text reads “he called their name Adam” with a plural suffix. The Septuagint (LXX) has “he called his name Adam” (τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ), a singular reading that may reflect an interpretation applying the name only to the male. The plural reading is the more difficult and is widely considered original. No other significant variants are noted in the consulted sources.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpreters, such as Philo and the rabbis, noted that the name “Adam” derives from adamah (ground), stressing humanity’s earthly origin. Christian commentators from the Reformation onward have focused on the naming as a declaration of marriage union. Calvin called it a “common name” to teach mutual cherishing. Matthew Henry and Wesley highlighted the shared dignity of male and female. In modern times, the verse is cited in conversations about biblical equality, showing that from creation men and women share the same essential humanity and identity before God. The verse has also been used in wedding liturgies reflecting on the one-flesh union.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Created male and female. God made humanity as two distinct but complementary sexes. The repeated phrase from Genesis 1:27 reminds us that gender difference is part of the original good creation (Matthew 19:4).
- Blessed them. The blessing is God’s gift of life, fruitfulness, and relationship. Though sin would disrupt this blessing, the genealogy that follows shows God’s commitment to preserving it through the generations.
- Called them both Adam. God gives the same name to the woman and the man. This is a declaration of shared identity, dignity, and unity, they are one flesh, one humanity before God.
Five-point outline
- Creation as foundation. “He created them” (v. 2). Our identity begins with God’s creative work, not human achievement.
- Gender distinction. “Male and female” indicates a real difference, but one that exists within a single humanity. Neither is superior; both bear God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
- The blessing continues. “And blessed them.” The blessing pronounced in Eden (Genesis 1:28) still stands, even after the fall. This genealogy is evidence of God’s faithfulness to His blessing.
- The naming act. God names them “Adam.” This is the only time in Scripture where God gives this name to both. It signifies the union of marriage and the shared calling of humanity to represent God on earth.
- Hope in the genealogy. Despite sin and death (v. 5: “and he died”), the list of names shows God preserving a line through which the promised offspring (Genesis 3:15) would come.
Illustration hooks
- A couple taking the same last name at marriage, a visible sign that two become one family. God’s naming of both “Adam” is a deeper declaration of unity, given by the Creator Himself.
- A sports team wearing the same jersey. No matter their different positions, they share the team identity. Similarly, male and female share the name “Adam,” the identity of humanity before God.
- A child adopted into a family receiving the family name. God does not just create us; He names us, bringing us into His household and giving us a shared identity in Christ.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does ‘Adam’ mean both man and woman are equal in dignity? What about differences in roles?”
- “Why is this verse repeated from Genesis 1? What does it add to the story?”
- “How does God’s naming of them both ‘Adam’ shape how we view marriage and the church?”
Leading a Discussion
Begin by reading Genesis 5:1, 5 aloud. Note that verse 2 repeats the creation account but adds the detail of God naming them both “Adam”. Discuss what this reveals about God’s design for humanity.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about the wording of this verse? How does it compare with Genesis 1:27, 28?
- Why do you think Moses includes this repetition at the start of a genealogy?
- The name “Adam” is given to both the man and the woman. What does this suggest about their relationship?
- How does this verse connect to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:4, 6?
- What does it mean for your own sense of identity that God names you, that He defines who you are?
- How can this verse shape the way we treat one another in the church community, especially across gender lines?
- In what ways do we see the blessing of God continuing today, even in a fallen world?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 1:27 | God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. |
| Genesis 2:15 | Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. |
| Genesis 2:23 | The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.” |
| Malachi 2:15 | Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. |
| Matthew 19:4 | He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, |
| Mark 10:6 | But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. |
| Acts 17:26 | He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads the common name given to both man and woman as evidence that marriage makes husband and wife one person. He dismisses the Jewish idea that only married people are called Adam, insisting Moses' point is the sacred union. Calvin also notes God's blessing continues despite human sin.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator observes that the command to be fruitful and multiply is not repeated here but implied by the genealogy. He also notes that calling them "Adam" likely uses the proper name, not the generic word for man, and that this naming is not recorded in chapter 1.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes point out that God gave the name Adam to both male and female together from the very day they were created. This shows that the word Adam refers to the whole human species, not just the man, and that both share the same origin and blessing.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that God gave both Adam and Eve the same name, Adam, on the day they were made. The name means earth, reminding the man of his origin, and was extended to the woman because she came from him and was joined to him in marriage, united under one name.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch note that the phrase "book of the generations" signals a self-contained written document, similar to a divorce certificate. The repetition of the creation day as the starting point deliberately roots all subsequent human development and history in that original act of God.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the Sethite genealogy as a prolonged battle between life and death. The repeated refrain "and he died" underscores death's dominion even over these long-lived patriarchs, until Enoch alone breaks the pattern through divine translation, offering a glimpse of life's ultimate victory.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that this genealogy's opening repeats the creation account to ground everything in man's total dependence on God. Man is not his own maker, so he cannot be his own master; he was made in a day, not eternal, and originally bore God's likeness as righteous and holy, which made him truly happy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes that God called both the man and the woman "Adam," signifying their original unity. He argues that since both were made immediately by God in His own likeness, there is no great inequality between the sexes as some imagine. This counters claims of inherent male superiority.