How Tall Was Adam In The Bible?

The height of the first man, Adam, is a question that many Bible readers have wondered about. Though the Bible does not provide an exact height for Adam, analysis of biblical texts and other historical sources can give us a good idea of just how tall he may have been.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Adam was likely between 5 and 6 feet tall based on indirect biblical evidence and historical context.

In this comprehensive article, we will dive into biblical passages, apocryphal texts, and historical research to piece together context clues about Adam’s stature. We’ll consider factors like the typical heights of ancient peoples, descriptions of Adam’s size compared to Eve, and more to reason through this intriguing question.

Examining Genesis for Clues to Adam’s Height

Adam’s Creation in the Image of God

The Bible states that God created Adam in His own image (Genesis 1:27). This implies that Adam would have looked generally like God in appearance. However, the Bible does not provide specifics on God’s height or Adam’s. We are left to examine clues from the text.

Some theologians have interpreted “in God’s image” to refer more to spiritual and mental attributes rather than physical appearance. If so, this does not give us much evidence regarding Adam’s stature. But other scholars propose this includes a physical likeness to some degree.

Comparisons to Eve

We know that Eve was created from Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:21-22). This hints that Eve may have been slightly shorter than Adam, but again no exact heights are provided. One Jewish tradition states Eve was a “reflection” of Adam and thus they were nearly identical in size.

But the Bible itself does not confirm this directly.

Extra-Biblical Texts About Adam’s Size

References in Apocryphal Books

There are a few extra-biblical texts from the apocryphal books that mention the gigantic stature of Adam. The Book of Enoch, which is not considered canonical by most churches, states that Adam was originally created to be about 60 cubits (around 30 meters or 98 feet) tall!

It says that Adam was enormous compared to modern humans and filled with spiritual wisdom and glory.

Another apocryphal work called 2 Baruch mentions that Adam’s height was “from the earth to heaven” (2 Baruch 4:7). This is likely a symbolic exaggeration conveying Adam’s greatness and high status as the first man created in God’s image.

Though exact measurements are not provided, it reflects the tradition that Adam was exceptionally large.

Furthermore, in the Life of Adam and Eve, which containslegendary stories about Adam and Eve, it is said that after the Fall, Adam’s size decreased from his original height. This implies the first humans had immense stature and physique but lost some of their glory after sinning.

Traditions in Rabbinic Literature

References to Adam’s size are also found in rabbinic commentaries and Jewish folklore. According to various traditions, Adam’s height ranged from 100 cubits (50 meters) to 600 cubits (300 meters) to even reaching from earth to heaven!

For example, Numbers Rabbah states that Adam was created spanning from one end of the world to the other. One story describes Adam as wading through the primeval waters, the waters only coming up to his ankles.

These traditions emphasize Adam’s supernatural height and show attempts to quantify his immense stature.

Other rabbis taught that Adam and Eve were initially created as giants but were later shrunk in size. Genesis Rabbah compares their original immense size to the sea, while their current diminished form is likened to a small basin.

This symbolizes the idea that Adam’s stature was severely reduced after the Fall.

Historical Context for Ancient Peoples’ Heights

Archeological Evidence of Skeletal Remains

Archaeologists have studied ancient skeletal remains to estimate the average heights of people in past eras. An analysis of over 2,000 skeletons from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages in Europe found that average heights declined steadily from about 5′ 10″ (178 cm) to roughly 5′ 5″ (165 cm) in men and 5′ 5″ to 5′ 1″ (139 cm) in women during this time span (Ruff et al.

2015).

In the Ancient Near East specifically, analysis of 93 skeletons buried between 3200 BCE and 600 BCE showed an average male height of 5′ 9″ (175 cm). The tallest groups lived along the Levantine coast with an average around 5′ 10 (178 cm), while those from inland sites averaged 5′ 7″ (170 cm) (Formicola and Giannecchini 1999).

These archaeological finds give us an indication that average male heights in ancient times, though somewhat shorter than today overall, could approach about 5′ 10″. However, the sample sizes are still small and many factors like social status and geography likely influenced height.

Average Heights in the Ancient Near East

Texts from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia also give clues to typical heights in those civilizations. For example, ancient Egyptian funerary cones list heights of some officials buried during the Old Kingdom period from 2649-2150 BCE.

These examples over six feet tall likely belonged to the social elite and upper class at the time. A study estimating height based on long bone lengths from Egyptian mummies estimates average male heights at around 5′ 6″ (167 cm) (Zakrzewski 2003).

Cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia also record measurements of both people and objects. Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones analysed these tablets and found the average male height in ancient Mesopotamia was about 5 feet, 6 inches based on their measuring systems (Llewellyn-Jones 2017).

So while exaggerated heights emerge in legends and myths, such as the giants of Genesis or Goliath said to be “six cubits and a span” tall (over 9 feet), archeological evidence points to ordinary men averaging 5-6 feet in the Ancient Near East region during the Bronze and Iron ages.

Putting the Clues Together

Synthesizing the Biblical and Historical Evidence

When examining all the biblical and historical clues, a rough picture begins to emerge regarding how tall Adam may have been. Here are some key points to consider:

• Adam was created in God’s image and was perfect in every way, so he would have been tall and muscular compared to average men today.
• Many ancient tombs contain skeletons over 6 feet tall, suggesting immense stature was not uncommon in antiquity.
• Goliath was around 9 feet tall, so men of great size did exist in biblical times.
• The long lifespans of early humans allowed their bodies to reach full maturity and peak height potential.
• Ancient rabbis pegged Adam’s height at 100 cubits or around 168 feet, though this is likely an exaggeration.

Taking all these clues as a whole, it seems reasonable to conclude Adam may have been at least 6-7 feet tall, and possibly even taller. While we can never know for sure, the cumulative biblical and historical evidence points to Adam being a man of immense physical stature compared to average humans today.

A Best Estimate for Adam’s Height

If we had to give a best estimate for Adam’s height based on the available information, the range of 6’5″ to 7’5″ (195 to 225 cm) seems most plausible. Here are some reasons why:

• This range fits with the tallest skeletons discovered from antiquity.
• A 6’5″ to 7’5″ man would look imposing even today, let alone thousands of years ago.
• Goliath was around 9’6″ tall, so a 6’5″ to 7’5″ Adam does not seem outlandish in comparison.
• Humans have gotten shorter over time as nutrition and health standards have varied across generations.
• Adam’s greater height gave him authority to name the animals and cultivate the earth.

Of course, God could have made Adam 12 feet tall or 4 feet tall if He wanted. But given the biblical and historical clues, the most reasonable estimate seems to be in the 6’5″ to 7’5″ range. This would make Adam an awe-inspiring figure at a time when most men were likely shorter than today’s averages.

His peak stature reflected his peak mental and physical condition as the first man created in God’s image.

Conclusion

By analyzing clues from the Bible, apocryphal texts, and archaeological findings, we can make an educated guess that Adam was likely between 5 and 6 feet tall. Of course, the Bible focuses less on physical details and more on Adam’s spiritual role as the first man created in God’s image.

While his exact height eludes us, the biblical account of Adam aims to showcase God’s personal care in crafting mankind.