Everyone’s Name

The name Adam is not just the name of the first human; it is the name of all of humanity. In Scripture, the word “man” has four appellations, one of them being adam (the other three are ish, enosh, and gever). In particular, adam is used to describe a person with advanced intellectual capacities.9

The word Adam derives from the Hebrew word adamah, earth, the source from which Adam was created. However, it is also related to the word edameh, which means similar. This indicates that if man fulfills G‑d’s Will, he can elevate himself until he is similar to G‑d on High.10

The Hebrew name for Eve, Chavah, derives from the word chai, life, for she was the mother of all living people.