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Names from the Holy Bible “ADAM”

October,3 2019

Why Adam was given this name
This week the Jewish celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which traditionally marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam. Many people know that in Aramaic/Hebrew when you say Adam you almost hear the word Adamah (earth, or ground) in this name. Why? The first man was called Adam because ‘the Lord God formed man from the dust of the earth” (‘Adamah’). What is the deeper message, hidden in these three Aramaic/Hebrew letters אדם ܐܕܡ (Adam)?

Reach the full potential
Firstly, more should be said about this connection, Adam-Adamah. Weren’t all the animals created from the ground; why was Adam the only one named after Adamah (אדמה)? Sages explain while the animals were created ‘almost completed’, both man and the ground were created in a basic, pure state; they both need to be developed; they both require hard work in order to reach their full potential and to bear fruit.

The hidden aspect
However, two different words “jump” at you from the original Hebrew ‘Adam’ – not just Adamah, but also dam (ܕܡ דם), blood. Why would the word dam be within Adam? It clearly shows that this creature – Adam – is ‘flesh and blood’ from the very beginning. We know that the Torah is based on the significance of the blood, dam, of living creatures, but it all seems to start here, in the name ‘Adam’.

Biblical Aramaic/Hebrew reveals the Eternal Mysteries
You don’t suppose that God gave a random and meaningless name to his first creation, do you? Undoubtedly, these "bloody" and “earthly” aspects form the original components not only of Adam's identity but of God’s message to humanity: this “flesh and blood” a man needs to be developed after he comes into this world.

 

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The Western Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the Syriac Orthodox community, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 18 churches and parishes in 17 western states. It was established in 1952 as the Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church encompassing the entire United States and Canada. In November 1995 by the Holy Synod, the Western Archdiocese was formed to exclusively serve the 17 states of the western half United States.


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