The Adamic language refers to the original language believed to be spoken by Adam—and possibly Eve—in the Garden of Eden. Based on Genesis 2:19–20, Adam names each creature, suggesting a language that inherently reflects the essence of creation.
Tradition differs on whether this was the language of God or one invented by Adam himself. In either case, it was seen not as arbitrary but as possessing true naming power, an idea that shaped theological, mystical, and scientific thinking for centuries.
Was Hebrew the Language of Eden?
Many Jewish exegetes argued that Hebrew was the language of Eden, citing how Adam’s naming of Isha and Chava only works in Hebrew (Midrash, as cited). This view remained influential through the Middle Ages.
However, Kabbalistic thinkers such as Abraham Abulafia suggested that the Edenic tongue differed from Hebrew, possibly aligning with the “eternal Torah”—a divine structure not confined to human alphabets or grammar.
Alternative Claims: Geʽez, Syriac, and More
According to Ethiopian and Eritrean traditions, Geʽez is believed to be the language of Adam. Some Arab Christian and Muslim thinkers, such as Sulayman al-Ghazzi, argued for Syriac instead.
In the 13th century, Abulafia also rejected the then-popular Christian claim that a child left unexposed to human speech would naturally begin speaking Hebrew—further evidence that the Adamic language was viewed as more mystical than biological.
Dante’s Shift: Divine or Human Language?
In De vulgari eloquentia, Dante Alighieri initially supported the idea that the Adamic language was divine and unchangeable. However, in his later work Divine Comedy (Paradiso XXVI), Dante revised his opinion.
He argued that Adam invented the language, meaning it could evolve and thus Hebrew was not Eden’s original language, but rather a derivative. He even proposed that the Hebrew name for God, El, must have originated from a different Adamic name—I.
From Babel to Brabantic: Renaissance Speculations
The biblical tale of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9) explains the fragmentation of human language, prompting Renaissance scholars to speculate on what the original might have been.
John Dee, an Elizabethan scholar and mystic, claimed to receive a sacred language through angelic communication. He called it “Angelical”, also referred to as the “Language of Adam”, and believed it was used by Adam to name all things in Paradise.
Meanwhile, Johannes Goropius Becanus proposed in Origines Antwerpianae (1569) that Brabantic, a Dutch dialect, was Eden’s language. His argument? It contained short, simple words—which he equated with primal simplicity.
When Language Met Science and Skepticism
By the 17th century, skepticism grew. Robert Boyle questioned whether Hebrew held any linguistic superiority, arguing that its names for animals weren’t more insightful than those in Greek or other tongues (Boyle, 1665, as cited).
John Locke, in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690), echoed these doubts, denying that words have a natural link to the essence of things.
Nevertheless, the idea of a perfect language persisted. Scholars began designing systems that mirrored the Adamic model—words that correspond directly to real-world objects or concepts—a notion that fueled both mysticism and early science.
The Mormon View: A Language to Be Restored
In the 19th century, the Latter Day Saint movement adopted belief in the Adamic language. Joseph Smith called it “pure and undefiled,” and early followers believed that glossolalia (speaking in tongues) was a return of that sacred speech.
Smith’s 1832 document, A Sample of the Pure Language, includes examples of supposed Adamic words, such as Awman for God (Joseph Smith Papers, 1832). Temple prayers once included the phrase “Pay Lay Ale”, interpreted as “O God, hear the words of my mouth.”
Many Mormons believe the “pure language” mentioned in Zephaniah 3:9 refers to this lost Edenic speech, which will be restored to unify humankind at the end of time.
Why the Myth Still Matters
Though modern linguists no longer seek to rediscover a literal Adamic language, the symbolism endures. The dream of a universal language—perfectly mirroring reality—remains influential in fields as diverse as linguistics, artificial languages, and computing.
The Adamic myth reflects a fundamental human desire: to understand, name, and master the world through speech. It’s a reminder that language has always been more than communication—it’s a means of connection, classification, and power.
References
- Boyle, R. (1665). [Quoted observations on Hebrew's descriptive limitations].
- Dante Alighieri. (1302–1320). De vulgari eloquentia; Divine Comedy (Paradiso XXVI).
- Dee, J. (16th century). Journals and records of “Angelical” language, via Edward Kelley.
- Goropius Becanus, J. (1569). Origines Antwerpianae.
- Joseph Smith Papers. (1832). A Sample of the Pure Language.
- Locke, J. (1690). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.
- Midrash. Jewish exegesis on Genesis 2:19–20.
- Sulayman al-Ghazzi. View on Syriac as Adamic language.
- Zephaniah 3:9. Biblical prophecy on “pure language”.
