אָדַם
flush or turn rosy
Definition
The Hebrew verb אָדַם primarily means 'to be red' or 'to become red,' often describing the process of dyeing leather or skins red, as seen in the instructions for the tabernacle coverings (Exodus 25:5, 26:14). In a figurative sense, it can describe the reddening of the eyes from drinking wine (Proverbs 23:31). The famous passage in Isaiah 1:18 uses this root metaphorically: 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,' contrasting the deep red of sin with purity.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in contexts involving the color red. Most occurrences are in Exodus, detailing the dyeing of ram skins red for the tabernacle's construction (Exodus 25:5, 35:7, 36:19). The single poetic use is in Proverbs 23:31 warning against wine that 'looks red' (sparkles). Isaiah 1:18 uses the related noun form ('scarlet') for a powerful theological metaphor.
Etymology
Derived from the root אדם (ʼdm), which is associated with redness, blood (דָּם, dam), and the ground (אֲדָמָה, ʼadamah). The verb form specifically points to the action of making something red or displaying a red color. It is directly related to the name Adam, connecting humanity to the 'red earth.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects to core biblical themes. The use in Isaiah 1:18 establishes 'scarlet' as a vivid metaphor for deep, glaring sin that requires divine cleansing. Furthermore, its etymological link to 'Adam' and 'ground' (Genesis 2:7) ties humanity's origin to the earth and perhaps hints at the blood (life) inherent in human nature. Understanding this root enriches the reading of both ritual texts and prophetic poetry.
In the ancient Near East, red dye was valuable and often associated with luxury, royalty, or sacred items. The command to dye skins red for the tabernacle signified the costliness and special purpose of the materials dedicated to God's dwelling. The association of red with wine in Proverbs reflects a common observational detail in wisdom literature.
שָׁנִי (shani, H8144) — A noun specifically meaning 'scarlet' or 'crimson,' often referring to the dyed material itself. חוּם (chum, H2346) — Means 'brown' or 'dark-colored,' a different shade. אַרְגָּמָן (ʼargaman, H713) — Refers to 'purple' dye, another costly color used in sacred and royal contexts.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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