The Hebrew word ʻÂdâh, represented by H5711, is defined as ornament and appears in the Bible as the proper name of two women. It is used 8 times in 8 unique verses, with all occurrences found in the book of Genesis. The name serves to identify these specific individuals within the scriptural record.
In the biblical narrative, H5711 identifies two different women. The first Adah appears as one of the two wives of Lamech Genesis 4:19. She is noted as the mother who bare Jabal Genesis 4:20 and is addressed directly by Lamech in his speech Genesis 4:23. The second Adah is one of the wives of Esau, identified as the daughter of Elon the Hittite Genesis 36:2. She bare a son named Eliphaz to Esau Genesis 36:4, and her lineage is recorded as part of the ancestry of the dukes of Edom Genesis 36:16.
The context of Adah's life is clarified by several related words:
- H802 ʼishshâh (wife): This term defines Adah's primary role in the narrative. She is consistently identified as the wife of Lamech Genesis 4:19 and the wife of Esau (Genesis 36:10, Genesis 36:12).
- H1121 bên (son): This word is central to Adah's significance, as her main purpose in the text is to be the mother of a son. Her sons are Jabal Genesis 4:20 and Eliphaz Genesis 36:4, whose own descendants are then listed (Genesis 36:12, Genesis 36:16).
- H3205 yâlad (to bear): This verb describes the act of giving birth and is used to connect Adah directly to her offspring. The scripture states that Adah bare Jabal Genesis 4:20 and that she bare Eliphaz to Esau Genesis 36:4.
- H6215 ʻÊsâv (Esau): The second Adah is almost exclusively identified through her connection to Esau. She is his wife Genesis 36:10, and her children are part of his posterity Genesis 36:4.
The significance of H5711 is found in its function within biblical genealogy and history.
- Matriarch of a Lineage: Adah is recorded as a key matriarchal figure. She is the mother of Jabal in the line of Lamech Genesis 4:20 and the mother of Eliphaz in the line of Esau Genesis 36:4, establishing distinct family lines.
- Establishing Posterity: The accounts of Adah and her children contribute to the biblical theme of tracing posterity. The listing of "the sons of Adah" who became "dukes... in the land of Edom" shows the formation of a people from a specific ancestor Genesis 36:16.
- Name and Identity: The deliberate recording of her name H8034, as in "the name of the one was Adah" Genesis 4:19, highlights the importance of individual identity within the larger framework of biblical genealogies.
In summary, H5711 is not an abstract concept but the proper name, ʻÂdâh, given to two women in Genesis. While its base meaning is ornament, its biblical usage is entirely focused on her role within family genealogies. She is recorded as a wife and mother, essential for tracing the lineage of both Lamech's descendants and the posterity of Esau. Through her, the narrative establishes key ancestral lines that are foundational to the early history recorded in Scripture.
TRV