By: Matthew D. Dyer
I recently watched a clip from a 2025 animated film titled David, which depicts the biblical account of David and Goliath. One of the first things that stood out to me was how distinctly Caucasian Goliath appeared in contrast to the other Philistines, the Israelites, and David himself. In the film, the young David is portrayed with noticeably darker, brown-toned features—resembling what many today would associate with a modern Arab in appearance. Is this portrayal biblically accurate though? In the article below, titled What Race was Adam? from my book A Case for Biblical Kinism, I examine some of the biblical evidence and argue that David and the Israelites were, in fact, Caucasian.
What Race was Adam?
Much could be said concerning the creation of the different races. In this appendix, I will not be addressing the creation of the races, rather I want to provide brief evidence revealing how Adam and the Israelites were white Caucasians. I realize this is not politically correct and is at odds with the recent theory that white Europeans have “white-washed” biblical history, but I believe truth should not fear investigation or political correctness.
The English name Adam is rendered from the Hebrew word aw-dawm’[1] which means “To show blood (in the face), that is, flush or turn rosy.” Fausset’s Bible Dictionary under Adam states: “Hebrew “Aadam,” from a root “ruddy” or fair, a genetic term.” Only the white race has the characteristic of blushing or showing blood in the face. William C. Boyd, Ph.D. in his book Races of People said the following concerning the races:
“The color of normal human skin is due to the presence of three kinds of colored chemicals, or pigments. The most important of these pigments is melanin, a dark brown sub stance…. The second of the three pigments is carotene. This is a yellow substance which is present in carrots (from which it gets its name) and egg yolks as well as human skin…. The third pigment is hemoglobin, which is the red coloring matter of blood…. the hemoglobin occurs in the blood vessels beneath the skin, so that very little can show through. The presence of fair amounts of either melanin or carotene in the skin covers it up completely. Hemoglobin does show up however in the skin of white men, particularly in those of light complexion. It is the hemoglobin that accounts for pink cheeks and the ability to blush. On the basis of these differences in coloring, mankind is sometimes divided into (1) a “Black Race,” high in melanin, (2) a “Yellow Race,” low in melanin but high in carotene; and (3) a “White Race,” low in both melanin and carotene.”[2]
The name Adam appears to be a descriptive word, because he was fair and white which caused the hemoglobin (blood) in his body to show in his skin, making him look “ruddy” or having a “flush” look. Since Eve was formed from Adam, this would mean she was of the same race as Adam, and Adam confirms this when he says of Eve, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.”[3] The Hebrew word ‘admônı̂y[4] is derived from aw-dawm’ and used in Scripture to describe the ruddy complexion of people. It first appears in Genesis as the English word “red” to describe either Esau’s hair color or complexion.
Genesis 25:25 states:
“And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.”
John Gill in his biblical commentary on Genesis 25:25 wrote the following concerning Esau:
“And the first came out red, Either his body, or rather the hair it was covered with, red.”
The word ‘admônı̂y appears twice in the book of 1 Samuel to describe young David.
1 Samuel 16:12 states:
“And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
Adam Clarke stated the following concerning David’s complexion in his commentary on 1 Samuel 16:12:
“He was ruddy – I believe the word here means red-haired, he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with a delicate skin and florid complexion.”
Matthew Poole stated the following concerning David’s complexion in his commentary on 1 Samuel 16:12:
“He was ruddy; which may be referred[sic]either to the colour of his hair; or rather, to the complexion of his face.”
1 Samual 17:42 states:
“And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.”
Since David is described with Caucasian features with possibly red hair,[5] it would mean all the Israelites were of this same racial group. In the 2014 documentary titled Patterns of Evidence: Exodus, fragments of a statue discovered in Egypt is believed by some to be of Joseph (son of Jacob/Israel) and depicts him with red hair, white skin, and a multicolored coat. More evidence to the fact of the race of the Israelites can be found in the Book of Lamentations, which describes the Nazarites as being white and ruddy.
Lamentations 4:7-8 states:
“Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire. Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.”
The Hebrew word aw-dawm’ is rendered as ruddy in this passage. Adam Clarke states the following concerning the Nazarites in his biblical commentary:
“Milk will most certainly well apply to the whiteness of the skin; the beautiful ruby to the ruddiness of the flesh; and the sapphire, in its clear transcendent purple, to the veins in a fine complexion. The reverse of this state, as described in the following verse, needs no explanation. The face was a dismal dark brown, the flesh gone, the skin shrivelled, and apparently wrapped round the bones.”
Verse 8 gives us the contrast of the Nazarite who is left in the streets and is starving for food to the point that you can see their bones like sticks. Only Caucasians can be born white in complexion and due to being out in the elements and exposed to the sun become dark. The Greek Septuagint in verse 8 describes the Nazarite as becoming black.
Lamentations 4:8 (Brenton Septuagint Translation) states:
“Their countenance is become blacker than smoke; they are not known in the streets: their skin has cleaved to their bones; they are withered, they are become as a stick.”
We find another example that the Israelites were Caucasian in the Songs of Solomon describing King Solomon as being both white and ruddy.
Songs of Solomon 5:10 states:
“My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.”
If Adam and Eve, Esau, Jacob and his sons, David, Solomon, and the rest of the Israelites were of the Caucasian race then it would mean that Jesus, who was a pure-blooded Israelite, was also of the Caucasian race. Now I realize that in our modern culture it is the reflex of some to call such an accusation “racist” and accuse me of whitewashing Jesus, but I would like to point out that the accusations of “brown washing” Jesus are never made when Jesus is identified as looking like what a brown middle easterner looks like today, or in some cases a black African.
One of the earliest depictions of Jesus is from the 2nd century A.D. and is painted inside the Catacomb of Callixtus in Rome. The picture (seen below) is painted depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd from John 10 with Caucasian features. It is obvious whoever painted this picture did not really see Jesus with their own eyes, but it does reveal to us that very early in Church history Christians viewed Jesus as a white man.[6]
[1] Strongs Hebrew Lexicon #120
[2] Races of People, William C. Boyd, Ph.D. pp. 43-45. (1955)
[3] Genesis 2:23
[4] Strongs Hebrew Lexicon #132
[5] It is estimated that approximately 2% of the world’s population has natural red hair, with the largest percentage of red-haired people being among Caucasian European.
[6] For information concerning the identity of the Israelites today, please see “Who Is True Israel” Online Bible Conference at Christian America Ministries YouTube Channel.
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