Adam was, according to the Book of Genesis, the first man created by God and noted in subsequent Jewish, Christian and Islamic commentary. His wife was Eve. Etymology Adam in Biblical (as well as modern) Hebrew's sometimes used as the personal name of an individual and at other times in a generic sense meaning "mankind". According to some scholars, in Gen. i. its use's wholly generic.. The generic usage in Genesis meaning "mankind" reflects the view that Adam was the ancestor of all men. Etymol… (More on Adam)