אָדֹם (H122) — Hebrew Lexicon

אָדֹם

𐤀𐤃𐤌

ʼâdôm

H122 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A descriptor meaning 'red' or 'reddish-brown', usually used to indicate color, especially of skin, earth, or objects with a reddish hue. In contexts where it describes a person, it refers to a ruddy or reddish complexion. The term can also function as a place name (e.g., 'Adom') indicating a location characterized by a reddish appearance or soil.

Semantic Range

red, reddish-brown, ruddy, describing color of skin, objects, earth; as a place name, indicating red-soiled land

Root / Etymology

From the root אדם, which has the core meaning 'to be red' or 'to show redness', often in reference to the color of earth or blood. אָדֹם is the adjective form signifying the color red or reddish.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Across biblical usage, אָדֹם most often describes color, referring primarily to a reddish or ruddy appearance. This can apply both to the color of objects—such as lentil stew (Genesis 25:30) or earth/soil (Numbers 19:2)—and to humans, denoting a ruddy complexion. The association of this color with earth is linguistically and conceptually linked to the related noun אֲדָמָה (ground, soil) and the personal name אָדָם (Adam), reflecting a cluster of ideas around earthiness, life, and blood. In narrative contexts, the term can signal distinctiveness or special notice of a person's appearance (as with Esau, described using the related root). English translations often use 'red' or 'ruddy,' which captures the main sense but sometimes lacks the nuance of context—especially the earthiness or connection to natural features. There is no theological or tribal connotation to the term itself in Hebrew usage; references to later identities, such as Edomites, stem from a play on the color's significance rather than an ethnic marker. Place names using this root reflect local geography or mineralogy rather than a people group. Lexical nuance may be lost when translated simply as 'red' in English, especially where context-rich associations (earth, blood, appearance) are involved.

Translation Consistency

primary "red" 7 occurrences

'Red' is the natural, common English adjective that covers the typical semantic range (red, reddish-brown, ruddy) used for skin, earth, and objects. It matches the majority of attestations and works straightforwardly as both a color adjective and in place names (e.g., 'Red' or 'Red‑soiled').

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"reddish" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָדַם; rosy; red, ruddy.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Adom: Redness, Earthiness, and Israelite Identity

How the Hebrew root אדם connects skin colour, soil, and the first man

The Hebrew word אָדֹם (adom, H122) means red or ruddy and derives from the root אדם, which connects redness to the earth (adamah) and to the first human (Adam). This article explores how the semantic range of this root — …

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Root Family

אדם (Adam) — to be red, to become red, to display redness

Root אדם to be red, show redness, to show earthy redness

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H119	אָדַם	they became red
H120	אָדָם	human being
H121	אָדָם	Adam
H123	אֱדֹם	in Red-land
H124	אֹדֶם	red gemstone
H125	אֲדַמְדָּם	ruddy-red
H126	אַדְמָה	Admah
H127	אֲדָמָה	arable ground
H128	אֲדָמָה	and Adamah
H129	אֲדָמִי	and Adami
H130	אֱדֹמִי	Edomite
H131	אֲדֻמִּים	Red Places
H132	אַדְמֹנִי	reddish-complexioned

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H122-03`	אֲדֻמִּ֥ים	adumim	`HAampa`	red	Reddish-places	red	3
`H122-01`	אָדֹ֖ם	adom	`HAamsa`	red	reddish	reddish	2
`H122-04`	הָ/אָדֹ֤ם	haadom	`HTd/Aamsa`	the red	the red one	the red stuff	2
`H122-02`	אֲדֻמָּ֜ה	adumah	`HAafsa`	red	red	red	1
`H122-05`	וְ/אָד֔וֹם	veadom	`HC/Aamsa`	and ruddy	red	and red	1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H122-04`	Genesis 25:30	הָ/אָדֹ֤ם	haadom	`HTd/Aamsa`	the red	the red one	the red stuff
`H122-04`	Genesis 25:30	הָ/אָדֹם֙	haadom-2	`HTd/Aamsa`	the red	the red one	the red stuff
`H122-02`	Numbers 19:2	אֲדֻמָּ֜ה	adumah	`HAafsa`	red	red	red
`H122-03`	2 Kings 3:22	אֲדֻמִּ֥ים	adumim	`HAampa`	red	Reddish-places	red
`H122-01`	Isaiah 63:2	אָדֹ֖ם	adom	`HAamsa`	red	reddish	reddish
`H122-01`	Zechariah 1:8	אָדֹ֔ם	adom	`HAamsa`	red	reddish	reddish
`H122-03`	Zechariah 1:8	אֲדֻמִּ֔ים	adumim	`HAampa`	red	Reddish-places	red
`H122-03`	Zechariah 6:2	אֲדֻמִּ֑ים	adumim	`HAampa`	red	Reddish-places	red ones
`H122-05`	Song of Songs 5:10	וְ/אָד֔וֹם	veadom	`HC/Aamsa`	and ruddy	red	and red

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