125. adamdam
Lexical Summary
adamdam: Reddish, ruddy

Original Word: אֲדַמְדָּם
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: adamdam
Pronunciation: ad-em-dawm'
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-am-dawm')
KJV: (somewhat) reddish
NASB: reddish-white, reddish
Word Origin: [reduplicated from H119 (אָדַם - dyed red)]

1. reddish

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
somewhat reddish

Reduplicated from 'adam; reddish -- (somewhat) reddish.

see HEBREW 'adam

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as adom
Definition
reddish
NASB Translation
reddish (2), reddish-white (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲדַמְדָּם adjective reddish (compare Assyrian ada(m)mumu ? DlW) of leprous sores Leviticus 13:42 (דָּֿ֑ם) Leviticus 13:49 (דָֹֿם); f. אֲדַמְדֶּמֶת Leviticus 13:24; Leviticus 13:43; דָֿ֑מֶת Leviticus 13:19; feminine plural אֲדַמְדַּמֹּת Leviticus 14:37.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Sphere of Use

אֲדַמְדָּם conveys a “reddish” hue—deeper than pink yet lighter than crimson—used exclusively in Leviticus to describe suspicious discolorations on skin, fabric, leather, or masonry. The word never appears in poetic or narrative passages; it is confined to priestly legislation regarding ritual purity and contamination.

Occurrences within Levitical Purity Regulations

1. Skin ailments: Leviticus 13:19, 13:24, 13:42, 13:43
2. Garments: Leviticus 13:49
3. Houses: Leviticus 14:37

Each context describes surface changes that must be evaluated by the priest. The term therefore functions as a diagnostic flag in Israel’s public-health system, signaling situations that may render a person or object “unclean” and in need of further scrutiny.

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern cultures associated unusual reddish spots with divine displeasure or contagious danger. Israel’s law, however, embedded the diagnosis in an orderly priestly process. The priest served simultaneously as health official and theological interpreter, acknowledging that disease and defilement interrupt fellowship with God but also providing a clear pathway to restoration.

Theological Significance of the Color

“Reddish” evokes the color of blood. The presence of a blood-like stain without an actual wound suggests a life-threatening intrusion into the created order—an echo of the Fall, where death entered and distorted human flesh and environment. Thus the regulations underscore that what appears minor to the eye may hide a deeper corruption needing divine remedy.

Foreshadowing the Atonement

Every inspection points ahead to the ultimate Priest who can truly “cleanse every spot.” The Messiah’s ministry recorded in the Gospels often mirrors Levitical procedure: “Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean.’” (Matthew 8:3). Whereas the Levitical priest could only declare clean, Jesus actually makes clean, fulfilling the typology in His atoning blood—blood that is itself vividly red yet purifies completely (1 John 1:7).

Practical Ministry Lessons

• Vigilance: Small discolorations, tolerated, can spread; believers must deal quickly with sin before it permeates life and fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
• Community Care: Diagnosis in Leviticus involved community oversight, reminding churches to practice loving, restorative discipline (Galatians 6:1).
• Hope of Restoration: Reddish stains did not necessitate destruction if cleansing proved possible. Likewise, no sinner is beyond Christ’s power to redeem (Hebrews 7:25).

Selected Scripture Quotations

Leviticus 13:19: “and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, it shall be shown to the priest.”

Leviticus 13:49: “and if the mildew on the garment, the leather, the warp or woof, or any article of leather is greenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew; it must be shown to the priest.”

Leviticus 14:37: “He is to examine the plague, and if the mildew in the walls of the house consists of greenish or reddish depressions that appear to go deeper than the surface, …”

Summary

אֲדַמְדָּם, though a rare adjective, serves an outsized role in highlighting impurity that threatens covenant life. By demanding inspection and, when necessary, purification, the term upholds the holiness of God among His people and directs hearts to the only lasting cure for defilement—the red blood of the Lamb “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Forms and Transliterations
אֲדַמְדֶּ֔מֶת אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת אֲדַמְדַּמֹּ֑ת אֲדַמְדָּ֑ם אֲדַמְדָּ֑מֶת אֲדַמְדָּ֗ם אדמדם אדמדמת ’ă·ḏam·dā·meṯ ’ă·ḏam·dām ’ă·ḏam·dam·mōṯ ’ă·ḏam·de·meṯ ’ăḏamdām ’ăḏamdāmeṯ ’ăḏamdammōṯ ’ăḏamdemeṯ adamDam adamDamet adamdamMot adamDemet
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Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 13:19
HEB: בַהֶ֖רֶת לְבָנָ֣ה אֲדַמְדָּ֑מֶת וְנִרְאָ֖ה אֶל־
NAS: or a reddish-white, bright spot,
KJV: white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed
INT: bright white A reddish-white shall be shown to

Leviticus 13:24
HEB: בַּהֶ֛רֶת לְבָנָ֥ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת א֥וֹ לְבָנָֽה׃
NAS: a bright spot, reddish-white, or
KJV: bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
INT: A bright white reddish-white or white

Leviticus 13:42
HEB: נֶ֖גַע לָבָ֣ן אֲדַמְדָּ֑ם צָרַ֤עַת פֹּרַ֙חַת֙
NAS: there occurs a reddish-white infection,
KJV: a white reddish sore;
INT: infection A white A reddish-white is leprosy breaking

Leviticus 13:43
HEB: הַנֶּ֙גַע֙ לְבָנָ֣ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֔מֶת בְּקָרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֣וֹ
NAS: of the infection is reddish-white on his bald
KJV: [be] white reddish in his bald head,
INT: of the infection white is reddish-white head or

Leviticus 13:49
HEB: יְרַקְרַ֣ק ׀ א֣וֹ אֲדַמְדָּ֗ם בַּבֶּגֶד֩ א֨וֹ
NAS: or reddish in the garment
KJV: be greenish or reddish in the garment,
INT: is greenish or reddish the garment or

Leviticus 14:37
HEB: יְרַקְרַקֹּ֔ת א֖וֹ אֲדַמְדַּמֹּ֑ת וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֥ן שָׁפָ֖ל
NAS: or reddish depressions
KJV: greenish or reddish, which in sight
INT: has greenish or reddish and appears deeper

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 125
6 Occurrences


’ă·ḏam·dām — 2 Occ.
’ă·ḏam·dā·meṯ — 1 Occ.
’ă·ḏam·dam·mōṯ — 1 Occ.
’ă·ḏam·de·meṯ — 2 Occ.

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