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Adam and Eve's Children Numbered?
How many sons did Adam and Eve have? Or more specifically: How Many Children Did Adam and Eve Have?
- According to The Bible, Adam and Eve had mentioned-by-name sons - Cain, Abel and Seth.
- But according to Genesis 5:4 Adam also had other sons and daughters.
- Some believe that in Adam and Eve's family tree the married couple had 33 sons and 22 daughters. It is of course possible, given the life span at that time, but we do not have specifics from Scripture to label this as biblical truth.
Here's our Comprehensive Table of Information from Trusted Sources and Biblical Scholars on the Number of Children Adam and Eve had.
| Source / Author (Date) | Paraphrase | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 5:4 (c. 1450 BC) | And the days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters | Unspecified |
| Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 1.2.3 (1st century AD) | The number of Adam’s children, as says the old tradition, was thirty-three sons and twenty-three daughters | 56 |
| Jewish Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 22 (c. 5th century AD) | Mentions Adam’s many sons and daughters, but no number given | Unspecified |
| Bishop James Ussher, Annals of the World (1650 AD) | Repeats Josephus’ tradition: 33 sons + 23 daughters | 56 |
| Matthew Henry, Commentary on Genesis 5:4 (1710 AD) | Notes Adam had sons and daughters though only three are named | Unspecified |
| John Gill, Exposition of Genesis 5 (1746 AD) | Some say he had thirty children others a hundred Josephus says thirty-three sons and twenty-three daughters | 30–100+ |
| Book of Jubilees Ch. 4 (2nd century BC) | Mentions children but focuses on Cain, Abel, Seth, Awan, and Azura | At least 5 named |
| Augustine, City of God 15:16 (426 AD) | Notes that Adam’s children included many sons and daughters though only a few are named for the sacred narrative’s purpose | Unspecified |
| Luther, Lectures on Genesis (1544 AD) | They had numerous children Scripture relates only those important to the promise | Unspecified |
| Calvin, Commentary on Genesis (1554 AD) | Adam had many children though Moses names only a few for brevity | Unspecified |
| Philo of Alexandria, On the Creation (1st century AD) | Describes Adam’s descendants as a numerous race | Unspecified |
| Ephrem the Syrian, Commentary on Genesis (4th century AD) | Speaks of many sons and daughters of Adam | Unspecified |
| Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (18th century AD) | Josephus says thirty-three sons twenty-three daughters | 56 |
| Lonang Biblical Commentary (Modern) | According to Bishop Ussher Adam and Eve had a total of 33 sons and 23 daughters | 56 |
| GotQuestions.org (Modern) | The Bible names only Cain Abel and Seth but they had other sons and daughters | Unspecified |
| Creation Moments (Modern) | Josephus wrote 33 sons and 23 daughters Given longevity such numbers are plausible | 56 |
| BibleAsk.org (Modern) | If Adam and Eve had one child every seven years they could have had about 50 children | ~50 |
| ChristianFaithGuide.com (Modern) | Genesis 5:4 hints they had several children besides the three named sons | Unspecified |
| John Lightfoot, Chronicles of the Old Testament (1644 AD) | Infers Adam’s line multiplied greatly before Seth | Many |
| Theodoret of Cyrus, Questions on Genesis (5th century AD) | Notes many unnamed children | Unspecified |
| Origen, Homilies on Genesis (3rd century AD) | Refers to sons and daughters generically | Unspecified |
| Gill’s Footnote quoting Josephus (1746 AD) | 33 sons 23 daughters | 56 |
| Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (c. 7th century AD) | Lists daughters Awan and Azura as wives to brothers | At least 2 daughters |
| Book of the Cave of Treasures (4th century AD) | Names nine of Adam’s children | 9 |
| Islamic Hadith Al-Tabari’s History (9th century AD) | Mentions Adam had many sons and daughters in pairs | Many |
| Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (14th century AD) | Mentions twin births one boy and one girl each time | Dozens possible |
| British-Israel Association, Cain Studies (Modern) | Repeats Josephus tradition 33 sons + 23 daughters | 56 |
| Kempner Church of Christ (Modern) | If Eve had one child per year by Seth’s birth she would have 129 children | 129 |
| BibleScienceGuy Blog (2016 AD) | If Adam had a child every 3 years to age 600 over 200 children possible | 200+ |
| Ahya.net (Modern) | Jewish tradition holds 56 children 33 sons 23 daughters | 56 |
| Augustine, Literal Meaning of Genesis 9:5 (415 AD) | It is certain Adam and Eve had many children though only some are named | Unspecified |
| Ambrose, Paradise of Adam (4th century AD) | Notes sons and daughters of Adam without number | Unspecified |
| CCOG.org Q&A (Modern) | One Jewish tradition relates that Adam and Eve had 33 sons and 23 daughters | 56 |
| BibleHub Commentary on Genesis 5:4 (Aggregated) | Cites Josephus and Gill 33 sons + 23 daughters | 56 |
| Ussher Chronology, reprinted in Halley’s Bible Handbook (17th–20th century) | Lists Josephus’ figure | 56 |
| Christian Pure (Modern) | Genesis 5:4 is the only direct evidence we have for additional children | Unspecified |
| Living God Tabernacle (Modern Sermon Note) | Claims ancient writer said 70 children sons and daughters | 70 |
| Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (1987) | Notes that other sons and daughters Genesis 5:4 indicates multiple offspring | Unspecified |
| International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) | Adam’s progeny were numerous Scripture selects only the named few | Unspecified |
| Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 5 (1880 AD) | No total number specified tradition gives 33 sons and 23 daughters | 56 |
| Jewish Virtual Library (Modern) | Josephus claims 33 sons 23 daughters Midrash gives similar traditions | 56 |
| Oxford Companion to the Bible (1993) | Genesis 5:4’s plural implies multiple children the total unknown | Unspecified |
| Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992) | Adam’s unnamed descendants represent the universal human race | Unspecified |
| Encyclopedia Judaica (1972) | Mentions Josephus’ figure as a later Jewish tradition | 56 |
How Did Their Sons Reproduce? Who were The Wives Of Adam and Eve's Sons?
- Some ask, if they had 3 sons, where did their wives come from? Since we know that the human family came from Adam, it is plausible to believe that the daughters of Adam and Eve were chosen as wives for their sons since there would be no one else to reproduce with.
- Prohibitions against incest were introduced later, in part, likely, due to the increased risk of birth defects and genetic abnormalities that result as the state of the fall progressed in time.
- How did Adam and Eve's sons reproduce? They most likely reproduced with their sisters, the daughters of the first married couple. But we do not have conclusive biblical evidence of this fact.
Video on The Daughters of Adam and Eve
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Famous Story of Cain Killing Abel
- And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
- And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
- And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
- And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
- But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
- And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
- [If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
- And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
- And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
- And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
- And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
- When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
- And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
- Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and
- I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.Bible Verses About Not Giving Up (Powerful)
What About Adam's Sons and Daughters in Genesis 5?
- This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
- Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
- And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
- And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
- And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
So How many children did Adam and Eve have? How many sons did Adam and Eve have?
We know the names of 3 sons: Cain, Abel and Seth, and Genesis 5 tells us that Adam had other sons and daughters.
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