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How the Old Testament Tax Collector Adoram Typifies Christ

How the Old Testament Tax Collector Adoram Typifies Christ

Last updated on: July 6, 2026 at 7:19 am by Delisa Hargrove

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How the Old Testament Tax Collector Adoram Typifies Christ 2026-07-06T07:19:14-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

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I decided to look for direct references to Jesus Christ’s ministry as I read through the Old Testament this time. Some examples include the well-known ways prophets and miracles are a type of Christ—such as the sacrifice of Isaac representing Jesus’ sacrifice.

As I read about David’s kingdom splintering after Solomon’s death, two verses caught my attention.

When Solomon’s son Rehoboam promised to increase his subjects’ taxation and burdens, all of his people except for the tribes of Judah and Benjamin revolted from Rehoboam’s reign. Here are the verses:

Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

Adoram typifies Christ

1700 engraving from The Bible Antique Testament of Adoram being stoned by the people

This reminded me of a parable of Jesus recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Matthew 21:33-39

33 ¶ Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

Luke 20:9-16 relates the same parable!

Here are the key points relating to the verses in 1 Kings.

13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

Mark 12:6:12 relates the same parable!

I started in the middle of Mark’s account and continued through the end of this episode.

6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Hopefully, the connection I made with Adoram’s death as the king’s emmissary is clear. But can he be considered a type of Jesus Christ?

Beginning the Deep Dive

There are quite a few applications to David-Solomon-Rehoboam’s kingdoms to this parable—also stark differences to the true Lord and King, like Rehoboam running away—but I really focused on

Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died.

David appointed Adoram as the kingdom’s tribute collector in 2 Samuel 20:24, so this wasn’t his first rodeo.

The name Adoram means “my lord is exalted or noble exaltation.” Of course, that name relates to Jesus Christ.

That definition reminded me of Abram, which means “exalted father.” The -ram portion of those names means “exalted, high, lofty.” “Ram” catapulted me to Abraham and Isaac’s ram in the thicket. I found that the Hebrew word for a ram is אַיִל (ayil.) That word also means: mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree!

I compared the words R-W-M and A-Y-L.

AI helped me format my findings into a readable list form.

1. רוּם / רוֹם (R-W-M)

Meaning: Height, high up, elevation, or exaltation. [1]
Linguistic Root: The root is ר-ו-ם, a primitive Semitic root meaning “to rise,” “to lift up,” or “to be high”. [1, 2]
Refers to vertical height and elevation.
Common Derivatives:
- להרים (leharim) – to lift / raise.
- תרומה (terumah) – a donation or offering (literally, something “lifted up”).
- מרום (marom) – heights or heaven.
- רם (ram) – high or loud

2. אַיִל (A-Y-L)

- Meaning: A ram (male sheep); historically, it also metaphorically referred to a chief, leader, prominent pillar, or a strong oak tree. In modern slang, it can mean a tycoon or mogul. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Linguistic Root: The root is א-י-ל, which historically carries the core concept of “strength,” “power,” or “preeminence”. [1, 2, 3]
- Refers to physical power and nobility.
- Common Derivatives:
  - - אילן (ilan) – tree.
    - איל (eyal) – courage, power, or fortitude. [1, 2, 3, 4]

After learning all of these meanings, the similar verbiage in Genesis 22:13 really struck me.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Three links from Adoram to Abraham and Isaac’s sacrifice—how Adoram typifies Christ:

1. The Action: “Lifted Up” (וַיִּשָּׂא – Vayyissa)

The verse starts with Abraham physically looking up. In Hebrew, the phrase “lifted up his eyes” uses the verb nasa (נשׂא). However, when he actually performs the sacrifice at the end of the verse, the text says: וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ לְעֹלָה (Vay’alehu l’olah—”and he lifted it up as an ascending offering”). [1, 2]

The connection: This physical concept of elevating an offering high onto an altar is the exact definition of the root רום (R-W-M) found in Ado-ram (meaning “exalted/high”). [1, 2]

2. The Substitute: “A Ram” (אַיִל – Ayil)

The animal caught in the thicket is explicitly called an אַיִל (ayil). [1]

The connection: As a noun, it means “ram,” but its root letters denote strength and leadership. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the ayil was a symbol of political and spiritual power—a “mighty one” or “lord.” [1, 2, 3, 4]

3. The Structural Echo: “Instead of” (תַּחַת – Tachat)

The verse concludes with the ram being sacrificed תַּחַת בְּנֽוֹ (tachat b’no—”in place of/underneath his son”). [1, 2]

Putting these pieces together reveals symmetry between the name Adoram and the mechanics of Genesis 22:13:

- Adon (Lord/Ruler) → Mirrored by the אַיִל (Ayil / Ram), which symbolically represents the chief, ruler, or strong substitute.
- Ram (Exalted/Lifted high) → Mirrored by the action וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ (Vay’alehu), as the substitute is lifted up onto Mount Moriah to be sacrificed to the Exalted God. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Adoram Typifies Christ

Through the lens of Hebrew wordplay, Genesis 22:13 is a living illustration of the name Adoram: the “mighty lord” (ayil) is physically “lifted high” (ram) on the altar.

I worship THE Mighty Lord physically lifted high on a crucificial altar. I’m grateful for seemingly random Old Testament verses that teach me so much about Jesus Christ’s mission and purpose.

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