He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names."
قال يا آدم أنبئهم بأسمائهم
As for Adam, it appears that it is a name and not a description of our father, and it is linguistically derived from al-Admah, which is a color between pure white and black.
Inform them of their names
أنبئهم بأسمائهم
Meaning, by the names of these named things.
So when he informed them
فلما أنبئهم
Who is the doer? Adam. When he informed them, he informed the angels of their names. He said, meaning Allah said:
Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed."
ألم أقل لكم إني أعلم غيب السموات والأرض وأعلم ما تبدون وما كنتم تكتمون
And that was to refute their statement:
Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
أتجعل فيها من يفسد فيها ويسفك الدماء ونحن نسبح بحمدك ونقدس لك قال إني أعلم ما لا تعلمون
Then Allah the Exalted intended to clarify the extent of the angels' knowledge regarding a matter they could see, yet they did not know it, by presenting the named things to them and asking for the knowledge of their names.
Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth
ألم أقل لكم إني أعلم غيب السموات والأرض
Meaning, what is hidden in them.
And I know what you reveal
وأعلم ما تبدون
Meaning, you reveal.
and what you have concealed."
وما كنتم تكتمون
.
