Genesis 5:1–2
Adam's genealogy recalls that he was made in the likeness of Elohim
Study it word by word1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that Elohim created the human being, in the likeness of Elohim he made him.
2Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and called their name “Human Being” in the day they were created.
In its context
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3And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and called his name Seth.
4And the days of Adam after he fathered Seth were eight hundred years; and he fathered sons and daughters.
Its words in the original
- סֵפֶרsefer· writing, book
Writing, document, book (in ancient times, a scroll).
- תּוֹלְדֹתtoldot· generations
What comes from someone: his descendants and their history. "These are the generations of..." is the phrase with which Genesis opens each of its sections.
- אָדָםadam· Adam
Adam, the personal name of the first man. It is the same Hebrew word "adam" (human being), used as a name. Also a town by the Jordan.
- יוֹםyom· day
Day: the hours of light, or a whole day from one evening to the next. Also an indefinite time or age ("in the day that...", "in those days").
- בְּרֹאbero· create
Create: make something new exist. In its basic form this verb is used in the Hebrew Bible only when God is the one acting. In other forms it means "clear, cut down" (a forest) or "fatten".
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- אָדָםadam· human being, man, Adam
The Hebrew word "adam". It has three uses: (1) humanity in general, men and women alike: "human beings" (Genesis 1:27); (2) a particular man; in Genesis 2-4, the first man, "the man"; (3) the personal name of that first man, "Adam". In Hebrew "adam" sounds like "adamah", the ground he was formed from (Genesis 2:7).
- דְמוּתdemut· likeness
Likeness, resemblance; form, model; "like". It goes with "image": the human being was made to be like God in some way and to represent him, without being equal to him.
- עָשָׂהasa· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- זָכָרzachar· male
Male; a man, or a male animal.
- נְקֵבָהnekeva· female
Female; a woman, or a female animal.
- יְבָרֶךְyevarech· bless, kneel
Bless. When God blesses, he gives good: life, children, fruit, prosperity. When a person "blesses God", he gives him nothing: he praises and thanks him. Between people, it is wishing the other the good that comes from God; also greet. The root also means kneel.
- יִּקְרָאyikra· call, proclaim
Call: speak out to someone, summon, invite, give a name, proclaim; also read aloud. "Call on the name of YHWH" is to pray to him and worship him.
- שְׁמָshema· name
Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.