1 Corinthians 15 · Verse 47

1 Corinthians 15:47

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:47, King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:47 in other translations

BSBThe first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.
WEBThe first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
ASVThe first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.
YLTThe first man is out of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord out of heaven;
DARBYthe first man out of the earth, made of dust; the second man, out of heaven.
BBEThe first man is from the earth, and of the earth: the second man is from heaven.
WebsterThe first man is from the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

What does 1 Corinthians 15:47 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
47. of the earth--inasmuch as being sprung from the earth, he is "earthy" (Ge 2:7; 3:19, "dust thou art"); that is, not merely earthly or born upon the earth, but terrene, or of earth; literally, "of heaped earth" or clay. "Adam" means red earth. the Lord--omitted in the oldest manuscripts and versions. from heaven--(Joh 3:13, 31). Humanity in Christ is generic. In Him man is impersonated in his true ideal as God originally designed him. Christ is the representative man, the federal head of redeemed man.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 47. The first man. Adam.

Is of the earth. Was made of the dust. See Gen 2:7.

Earthy. Partaking of the earth; he was a mass of animated clay, and could be appropriately called "DUST," Gen 3:19. Of course, he must partake of a nature that was low, mean, mortal, and corruptible.

The second man. Christ. 1Cor 15:45. He is called the second man, as being the second who sustained a relation to men that Was materially to affect their conduct and destiny; the second and the last 1Cor 15:45 who should sustain a peculiar headship to the race.

The Lord from heaven. Called in 1Cor 2:8, the "Lord of glory." 1Cor 2:8. This expression refers to the fact that the Lord Jesus had a heavenly origin, in contradistinction from Adam, who was formed from the earth. The Latin Vulgate renders this, "the second man from heaven is heavenly;" and this idea seems to accord with the meaning in the former member of the verse. The sense is, evidently, that as the first man had an earthly origin, and was therefore earthy, so the second man being from heaven, as his proper home, would have a body adapted to that abode; unlike that which was earthy, and which would be fitted to his exalted nature, and to the world where he would dwell. And while, therefore, the phrase "from heaven" refers to his heavenly origin, the essential idea is, that he would have a body that was adapted to such an origin and such a world--a body unlike that which was earthy. That is, Christ had a glorified body, to which the bodies of the saints must yet be made like.

(a) "first man" Jn 3:13,21

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 47 The first man is of the earth - That is: Adam's body was made out of the dust of the earth; and hence the apostle says he was χοΐκος, of the dust; for the body was made עפר מן האדמה aphar min haadamah, dust from the ground; Gen 2:7. The second man is - from heaven - Heavenly, ουρανιος, as several good MSS. and versions read. The resurrection body shall be of a heavenly nature, and not subject to decay or death. What is formed of earth must live after an earthly manner; must be nourished and supported by the earth: what is from heaven is of a spiritual nature; and shall have no farther connection with, nor dependence upon, earth. I conceive both these clauses to relate to man; and to point out the difference between the animal body and the spiritual body, or between the bodies which we now have and the bodies which we shall have in the resurrection. But can this be the meaning of the clause, the second man is the Lord from heaven? In the quotation I have omitted ὁ Κυριος, the Lord, on the following authorities: Manuscripts - BCD*EFG, and two others. Versions - Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian in the margin, Vulgate, and Itala. Fathers-Origen, who quotes it once and omits it once; Athanasius, Basil, the two Gregories, Nyssen and Nazianzen; Isidore, Cyril, Tertullian, Cyprian, Hilary, Zeno, Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, Ambrosiaster, Philaster, Leo, Pacianus, Primasius, Sedulius, Bede, and others. See these authorities more at large in Wetstein. Some of the most eminent of modern critics leave out the word, and Tertullian says that it was put in by the heretic Marcion. I do think that the word is not legitimate in this place. The verse is read by the MSS., versions, and fathers referred to, thus: The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is of heaven, heavenly; Κυριος being omitted and ουρανιος added. The first man and the second man of this verse are the same as the first Adam and the second Adam of 1Cor 15:45, and it is not clear that Christ is meant in either place. Some suppose that there is a reference here to what Eve said when she brought forth Cain: I have gotten a man from the Lord, קניתי איש את יהוה kanithi ish eth Yehovah, I have possessed or obtained a man, the Lord; that is, as Dr. Lightfoot explains it, that the Lord himself should become man: and he thinks that Eve had respect to the promise of Christ when she named her son; as Adam had when he named his wife. If Eve had this in view, we can only say she was sadly mistaken: indeed the conjecture is too refined. The terms first man of the earth, and second man from heaven, are frequent among the Jews: אדם לעילא the superior Adam; and אדם תתאה Adam the inferior; that is, the earthly and the heavenly Adam: Adam before the resurrection, and Adam after it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:35-50

1. How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 15:35-50 →

1 Corinthians 15:47 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHoTheG3588
πρῶτοςprōtosfirstG4413
ἄνθρωποςanthrōposmanG444
ἐκek[was] fromG1537
γῆςgēs[the] earthG1093
χοϊκός,choikosmade of dust,G5517
ὁhotheG3588
δεύτεροςdeuterossecondG1208
ἄνθρωποςanthrōposmanG444
ὁho[is] theG3588
κύριοςkuriosLordG2962
ἐξexfromG1537
οὐρανοῦ.ouranouheaven.G3772

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 15:47

  • John 3:31

    He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

  • Genesis 2:7

    And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:45

    And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

  • Luke 2:11

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

  • John 3:12-13

    If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

  • Isaiah 9:6

    For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • Acts 10:36

    The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

  • Luke 1:16-17

    And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

  • Matthew 1:23

    Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
first.
45; Ge 2:7; 3:19; Joh 3:13,31; 2Co 5:1
the Lord.
Isa 9:6; Jer 23:6; Mt 1:23; Lu 1:16,17; 2:11; Joh 3:12,13,31; 6:33
Ac 10:36; Eph 4:9-11; 1Ti 3:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 15:46

    Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:47

    The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:48

    As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:47 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El primer hombre, es de la tierra, terreno: el segundo hombre, que es el Señor, es del cielo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le premier homme est tiré de la terre, – poussière; le second homme est venu du ciel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der erste Mensch ist von der Erde, von Staub; der zweite Mensch vom Himmel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Primus homo de terra, terrenus: secundus homo de cælo, cælestis.