Patriarch · Old Testament
The Story of Adam
Also: Adamu (Kiswahili)
The first man, formed by God from the dust and placed in the garden of Eden.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Genesis presents Adam as the first man, formed by the LORD God from the dust of the ground and given the breath of life, and placed in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:7–8Genesis 2:15
God made the woman from his side. After they ate from the tree God had forbidden, they were sent out of the garden. Genesis 2:21–23Genesis 3:6Genesis 3:22–24
Adam fathered Cain, Abel and Seth and died at 930 years old. The New Testament contrasts Adam, through whom sin and death came, with Christ. Genesis 4:1–2Genesis 5:3–5Romans 5:12–19
Told in: Genesis
Life at a glance
- Wife
- Eve Genesis 3:20
- Sons named
- Cain, Abel and Seth; other sons and daughters Genesis 4:1–2Genesis 4:25Genesis 5:4
- Place
- The garden of Eden, then outside it Genesis 2:8Genesis 3:23
- Death
- At 930 years old Genesis 5:5
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Adam
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Created in God's image
God creates humankind in his image, male and female, and blesses them. The LORD God forms the man from dust and breathes life into him.
In the garden of Eden
The LORD God puts the man in Eden to work and keep it, commands him not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the man names the animals.
More about this event
Places named: Eden
The woman is made
God makes the woman from the man's rib and brings her to him; the man says she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh.
More about this event
People: Eve
Eating the forbidden fruit
Tempted by the serpent, the woman eats and gives to her husband, who eats. Their eyes are opened; God pronounces the consequences and sends them out of the garden.
Children and death
Genesis 4:1–2 · Genesis 4:25 · Genesis 5:1–5
Eve bears Cain and Abel, and later Seth. Adam lives 930 years and dies.
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret Adam. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Teaching or quotation mentioning them
- Romans 5:12–19 — Sin entered through one man; grace through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 15:22 — As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45 — The first man Adam and the last Adam.
- 1 Timothy 2:13–14
Genealogy
- 1 Chronicles 1:1
- Luke 3:38 — Luke traces Jesus' genealogy to Adam, the son of God.
Family and relationships
Books associated with Adam
- Genesis Their story appears here
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
CreationSin
- What do Genesis 1:27 and 2:7 each say about what a human being is?
- How does Paul compare Adam and Christ in Romans 5:12-19?
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