AboutGaddy Yaari Expertise What I do: I'll help you understand Hebrew phrases or single words, as well as answer questions about Jewish practices.
What I don't do: Tattoo translations. For that, try http://www.stars21.com/translator/english_to_hebrew.html
Experience I am a columnist for a Hebrew-language newspaper, and a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Education/Credentials MBA
BA in the US,
Grade school and high school in Israel
Question Hello,
My question is related to the book of GENESIS and the original Hebrew language? It is my understanding through some research that the word for "man" in Hebrew is "adam." With this being said, when I am reading the Bible in an English translation, are the words "adam" and "man" interchangable? How do translators know where to put the name "adam" as opposed to saying "man?" Is there another word for "man" or something? Thanks very much.
Answer Vincent -
Hebrew solves the problem by putting 'ben' (which means 'son of') in front of adam. Ben adam means 'man' or 'human being'. As you can imagine, the translators of the New Testament were not aware of it when they translated Jesus Christ to say "I am the Son of Man" when what he really said was "I am a human being".
