One fascinating interpretation comes from Bereshit Rabbah 21, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Genesis. It starts with a verse from Job: "Though his exaltedness ascends to the heavens, and his head reaches the clouds" (Job 20:6). Now, who are they talking about here? Bereshit Rabbah applies this verse to Adam.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, citing Rabbi Elazar, paint a picture of Adam that's simply mind-boggling. They say that God created him so massive he filled the entire world from east to west! How do they know? They point to Psalm 139:5, "Back and front You shaped me."
But wait, there's more! What about north to south? Well, the sages derive that from Deuteronomy 4:32: "[From the day God made Adam on the earth,] and from one end of the heavens to the other end.” So, east to west and north to south. We're talking a truly colossal Adam.
Okay, so he fills the earth, but what about the space of the world, the upper reaches? Did Adam extend into the heavens themselves? According to this midrash, yes! They derive this from another part of Psalm 139:5: “You placed Your palm upon me.” This suggests Adam's size was so immense that God's own hand could barely encompass him.
Can you imagine? This isn’t just a person; this is a being of cosmic proportions, literally embodying the entire world. It’s a powerful image of humanity’s potential, perhaps, and our original connection to all of creation.
But of course, the story doesn't end there. Adam doesn't stay this size, does he? We know he gets expelled from the Garden of Eden. And that, too, is linked to another verse from Job: "He will perish forever like his dung [kegelelo]" (Job 20:7). The midrash connects the word kegelelo with the Hebrew word galal, meaning "rolled away." The interpretation here is that because Adam "rolled away" from even a minor commandment, he was cast out.
And the verse continues, "They who saw him will say: Where is he?" (Job 20:7). Bereshit Rabbah explicitly identifies this as referring to Adam. When God sent him away, the text says, He lamented, saying, "Behold, the man…" This giant, world-spanning Adam, reduced, diminished by his actions. It’s a profound commentary on free will, responsibility, and the consequences of our choices. We start with boundless potential, a connection to everything, and then… we lose it. We shrink, not physically perhaps, but spiritually. We are diminished by our choices.
So, next time you read the story of Adam and Eve, remember this midrash. Remember the giant who filled the world. And remember the lament, "Where is he?" It's a question we might all ask ourselves from time to time.