a primitive root; to advance, i.e. pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; specifically, to bedeck (i.e. bring an ornament upon); adorn, deck (self), pass by, take away.
Transliteration:ʻâdâh
Pronunciation:aw-daw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H5710}}` (ʻâdâh) is a primitive verb exhibiting a remarkable semantic breadth, encompassing three distinct yet interconnected spheres of meaning. Primarily, it denotes movement or progression: "to advance," "to pass on," or "to continue." This sense implies a forward motion, whether in space or time. Secondly, and often as a causative extension of the first, it signifies "to remove" or "to take away," suggesting a separation or detachment from a previous state or location. This can imply an active dislodging or a passive vanishing. Thirdly, and perhaps most strikingly divergent, `{{H5710}}` carries the meaning "to bedeck," "to adorn," or "to deck (oneself)." This specific usage refers to the act of bringing an ornament or embellishment upon something or someone, enhancing its appearance or status. The interplay of these senses—movement, removal, and adornment—reveals a dynamic root capable of expressing a wide range of actions from physical displacement to aesthetic enhancement and moral purification.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The diverse meanings of `{{H5710}}` are evident across various biblical contexts:
1. **To Adorn/Deck:** This usage often pertains to personal beautification or the embellishment of objects.
* In [[Isaiah 61:10]], the prophet rejoices, "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Here, `{{H5710}}` describes the act of adorning with spiritual garments, highlighting divine blessing and transformation.
* [[Jeremiah 4:30]] uses the word in a negative sense, depicting Judah's futile attempts to beautify herself for foreign lovers: "And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Though you dress in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain you beautify yourself; your lovers despise you; they seek your life." The adornment here is superficial and morally corrupt.
* [[Ezekiel 16:11]] portrays God's gracious act of adorning Israel: "I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck." This emphasizes God's lavish care and covenant love for His people.
* [[Proverbs 7:16]] applies the term to the decking of a bed, indicating preparation and allure: "I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens from Egypt."
2. **To Pass On/Pass By/Continue:** This sense denotes progression or movement through a space or time.
* [[2 Samuel 20:13]] illustrates physical movement: "When he was removed from the highway, all the people passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri." The people "passed on," continuing their journey.
* In [[Isaiah 30:32]], the word describes the movement of divine judgment: "And every stroke of the appointed staff that the LORD will lay on him will be with tambourines and lyres..." The staff "passing over" or "visiting" implies the execution of judgment.
3. **To Remove/Take Away:** This causative or resultant meaning signifies a separation or cessation.
* [[2 Samuel 3:11]] uses `{{H5710}}` to describe Abner's inability to speak: "And Abner could not answer David a word, because he feared him." The sense is that the ability to answer was "taken away" or "removed."
* In reform movements, the term is used for the eradication of idolatry: [[1 Kings 15:12]] states of King Asa, "He also removed the male cult prostitutes from the land and purged all the idols that his fathers had made." Similarly, [[2 Chronicles 15:8]] records Asa's removal of "detestable idols."
* [[2 Chronicles 33:15]] recounts Manasseh's repentance: "He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, as well as all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city." This signifies a spiritual cleansing.
* [[Jeremiah 10:11]] prophetically declares the fate of false gods: "Thus you shall say to them, 'The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'" Here, `{{H5710}}` implies their ultimate removal or vanishing.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic range of `{{H5710}}` connects it to several conceptual fields in Hebrew. In the sense of adornment, it relates to words signifying beauty, glory, and embellishment, such as `{{H6287}}` (pa'ar, "to glorify, beautify") or `{{H8597}}` (tiphereth, "beauty, glory"). When conveying movement, `{{H5710}}` overlaps with terms like `{{H5674}}` ('abar, "to pass over, through") or `{{H1980}}` (halak, "to walk, go"), which describe various forms of progression. In its meaning of removal, it shares conceptual space with verbs such as `{{H5493}}` (sur, "to turn aside, remove") or `{{H3988}}` (laqach, "to take, receive"), emphasizing separation or cessation. The unique aspect of `{{H5710}}` is its ability to bridge these seemingly disparate concepts, indicating a root that captures both the addition of something (adornment) and its subtraction (removal), as well as simple progression.
### Theological Significance
The theological import of `{{H5710}}` is profound and multifaceted. In its "adornment" sense, it beautifully illustrates God's grace and covenant faithfulness. God "adorns" His people not merely with external beauty, but with righteousness and salvation, as seen in [[Isaiah 61:10]]. This divine adornment signifies a profound transformation and the bestowal of honor and dignity. Conversely, human attempts at self-adornment for unholy purposes, as in [[Jeremiah 4:30]], expose vanity, spiritual prostitution, and ultimately, futility. This highlights the distinction between true, divinely-imparted glory and superficial, self-serving display.
The "removal" aspect of `{{H5710}}` carries significant theological weight, particularly in the context of purification and judgment. The consistent use of the word to describe the removal of idols and abominations by righteous kings (e.g., [[1 Kings 15:12]], [[2 Chronicles 15:8]]) underscores the necessity of spiritual cleansing and the establishment of exclusive worship to Yahweh. This act of removal is vital for covenant renewal and the restoration of a right relationship with God. Furthermore, the removal or vanishing of false gods ([[Jeremiah 10:11]]) speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty and the inevitable demise of all that opposes Him.
The "passing on" or "continuing" sense, while less overtly theological, often describes the unfolding of divine purposes or human actions within God's overarching plan. It can imply the onward march of events or the progression of God's judgment, demonstrating His active involvement in history.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H5710}}` (ʻâdâh) is a remarkably versatile word with a tripartite semantic range: to advance or pass on, to remove or take away, and to bedeck or adorn. This range allows the root to describe physical movement, cessation, and enhancement. Theologically, `{{H5710}}` illuminates key aspects of God's relationship with humanity. It portrays His gracious act of adorning His people with salvation and righteousness, signifying His transformative power and covenant love. Simultaneously, it underscores the critical necessity of "removing" idolatry and wickedness for spiritual purity and covenant faithfulness. The concept of "passing on" or "continuing" often speaks to the progression of divine judgment or the unfolding of God's purposes in history. Thus, `{{H5710}}` encapsulates themes of divine grace, human responsibility, spiritual cleansing, and the sovereign movement of God's plan.
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