Adam Had A Secret

Focal Verse

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
— Gn 1:26 (NRSV)

News Flash!!!

BULL SWAMP (CR News) — though we can’t say positively, at this time, that they were from the red planet (Mars), scientists have uncovered conclusive evidence that our planet was visited by red people a long time ago.

[FAKE NEWS ALERT … this news story is a “spoof” (not true — like so many mainstream media stories these days). Enjoy the humor and its entertainment value, but please … focus on the Bible lessons — which IS truth.

The Answer To The Question …

If you didn’t get the correct answer to our “Bible Study Quiz,” don’t feel bad. It’s actually a trick question. There is a play on words (of sorts) that takes place in the Bible.

Before we explain, you should know that the creation story does NOT actually say God named the man Adam. It just starts using that word (Adam) in Genesis 2.

So here’s the solution to our “Bible Study Quiz”:

The naming of Adam actually takes place in Gen 5:2 (after the Fall). And here’s the real surprise. “ADAM” actually applies to both Adam and Eve — and why not? Eve was made from the rib of Adam.

The Bible verse in question tells us:

“Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Adam (Humankind) when they were created.”
— Gn 5:2 (NRSV)

It Is Written …

What makes this “Bible Study Quiz” a trick question is the Hebrew word from which our Bible gets the word for “mankind” or “humankind.” That word, as you might have already guessed, is “ADAM.”

But what makes it tricky is — the Hebrew word “Adam” does not actually just mean man or mankind or even humankind. It also means “red” or “ruddy” or “blood.”

And so, the best meaning we can get for Adam in the Bible creation story is “red man” or “red people.” Although “Adam” is identified with the man, the word really describes the woman too, the one whom Adam called Eve. Like Adam, she too is red and ruddy which is no surprise, since she was taken from the side of the man.

By the way, as you read further into the Old Testament, you will come upon a place called Edom. You’re also going to find names like Odem, and you’re going to encounter a people group called the Edomites. All these names have a similar etymology (root) to our Bible name Adam.

They all describe “red” or “ruddy” or “blood.”

It must’ve been very important to our Lord because it was placed so prominently in the Creation story.

Next Steps …

Tell a friend that reading the Bible is good for them. And it’s fun too. Tell them to check out the Bible Study Cartoons website and social media.

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