First Man · OT
Adam
The first human being, formed from the dust of the ground and made in the image of God.
Adam (Hebrew adam, 'man' or 'humanity,' related to adamah, 'ground') is the first human in the biblical account. Genesis 2 describes God forming him from the dust and breathing into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became 'a living being.' Placed in the Garden of Eden to work and keep it, Adam named the animals and was given Eve as a companion suited to him.
The single prohibition — not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil — was broken when Adam followed Eve in disobedience. The consequences were catastrophic: shame, expulsion from Eden, painful labor, and death entering the world. Yet even in judgment God gave the first gospel promise — the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).
The apostle Paul treats Adam as the federal head of humanity and the type of the Christ who was to come: 'For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive' (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Key moments
Formed from the dust
God breathed into him the breath of life.
Named the animals
An exercise of God-given dominion.
Received Eve
'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.'
Fell into sin
Ate the forbidden fruit; was expelled from Eden.
Heard the first gospel promise
Genesis 3:15 — the protoevangelium.
Key verses
"And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
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"And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
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"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat."
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"and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
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"Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:—"
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"So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit."
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Frequently asked
How long did Adam live?
Genesis 5:5 records that Adam lived 930 years and then died — the death warned about in Genesis 2:17 ultimately overtook him.
Why is Adam called a 'type' of Christ?
Paul calls Adam a 'type of the one who was to come' (Romans 5:14). Both are representative heads: Adam's disobedience brought condemnation to all who are in him; Christ's obedience brings righteousness to all who are in him.