Comparing Adam in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2
Defining "Man" in the Bible Comparing 'Adam in Hebrew
In English the Hebrew word "'adam" is translated to mean "man, men, and mankind". To any who have never encountered or studied Hebrew, this fits perfectly in explaining the man named Adam in the Garden of Eden. In comparing the use of the word for man ('adam) in Genesis 1 and Gensis 2, the meaning in each case requires a closer look for fuller understanding.
In numerous places within the King James Version of the Bible the full essence and meaning of some Hebrew and Greek words are lost in the translation. Some individual words were understandably translated as a single word in English, and yet a full paragraph much like the definition in a dictionary would be required to get the exact meaning. Variations of these unique words used in extended phrases can add to the confusion. This is true of the Hebrew word for "man" as follows:
1. Without the Hebrew article or particle preceding the word 'adam, it can mean man, men, or mankind.
2. When preceded with the article to become the phrase haa-'adam, it means the man.
3. Extend the Hebrew phrase with the article and particle and 'eth haa-'adam means this specific man.
Sixth Day Creation Adam and the Other Adam in Eden
Understanding that the word man appears 2,740 times in the Bible and it was translated from the Hebrew word "'adam" in the Old Testament, comparing 'adam in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 reveals a truth that many Christians may not realize. Until you take each occurrence of "man" back to the original phrases in which they appear, most casual readers of the Bible will miss the difference between the use of the word "man" in Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2.
Contrary to what many Christians learn from their youth, not everyone in this world is a descendant of Adam and Eve!
The mention of man in the sixth day creation of Genesis 1 refers to mankind which includes men and women, and all the races. Mankind (plural) as translated to "man" (singular) and created on the sixth day were hunters and gatherers, and there's plenty of historical evidence going back long before Adam in Eden. The male named Adam in Genesis 2 was "formed, not "created" (KJV) in the Garden of Eden, and began before or around 4,000 years B.C., or at least 6,000 years ago.
Consider the following verses, and note the mention of male and female, plus the plural "them" in Genesis 1:27.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
The humans of the sixth day creation were ordered to be fruitful and multiply, which they did as proven with carbon dating of pottery that shows Chinese civilization began more than 15,000 years ago. Further archaeological evidence exists for almost every continent with ancient civilizations in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Antarctica is an exception.
Special Note: In Genesis 1:26 above, it states in "our image" and in Genesis 1:27 below it states "His own image", so there is no denying when you look upon the face of another human being, you are seeing a likeness created similar to God and his angels (plural because it states "our image"). We are all His precious and equal children who should, as Christ taught, "love one another". Let's continue with an explanation of the next verse.
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
Verse 1:27 confirms what I stated earlier that the creation of mankind on the sixth day was plural, and included male and female human beings. These predate Adam and Eve who were formed after God rested on the seventh day.
Adam and Eve of the Garden of Eden
The 'eth haa-'adam in Hebrew of Genesis 2:7 is not "man or mankind" ('adam), but the specific man, Adam, as follows:
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 (KJV)
It's important to understand why God formed Adam, and then Eve as a helpmate. Until then, mankind lived as hunters and gatherers and ate what grew wild. In Genesis 2:5 Adam the gardener, or farmer, was needed to "till the soil" for growing and cultivating food and raising domesticated livestock.
More importantly, it was through the seed of Adam and Eve that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was to be born as part of God's master plan following the downfall of Satan.
Closing Evidence About Mankind Created on the Sixth Day
As more evidence of the sixth day creation of mankind, and to answer what may perplex some Bible students, read Genesis 4:16 and 4:17 about Cain being driven away and going to the land of Nod after he slew his brother, Abel. This place was east of Eden, but the exact location is unknown from historical records relating to any present maps. Verse 17 talks about his wife who conceived and bore Enoch. He left Eden and found a wife in Nod which is further evidence of mankind and a population outside of the Garden of Eden.
As a final note, I remind readers that my studies of the Bible referencing the languages of the original manuscripts cannot cover every book, chapter, and verse. My purpose is to share what I learn from selected verses to encourage people to study and stay in His Word to begin knowing God, and form their opinions as the Holy Spirit guides them.
Article Source: www.ultimateriddles.com/genesis-bible-lesson-02.html.
About the Author: Jim Degerstrom is an author who works in a faith based business offering custom website design and graphic art services, and documents Bible studies at his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Journey website and blogs about spiritual growth on his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Study blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.
This article is a licensed work under the Creative Commons Agreement Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License. You are welcome to republish in print or online. All author information and links must be kept intact including the article source.