Adah עָדָה
Hittite wife of Esau; mother of Eliphaz
Who is Adah in the Bible?
Adah was a Hittite woman who became one of Esau's wives and the mother of Eliphaz (Genesis 36:2, 36:4). She is also referred to as Basemath in some biblical references and was the daughter of Elon the Hittite, whose marriage to Esau caused grief to his parents Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34-35). Adah's son Eliphaz became a chief in the land of Edom and fathered several sons, including Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz, who also became prominent chiefs (Genesis 36:11-12, 36:15-16). Adah is significant primarily as part of Esau's genealogy, illustrating the descendants who populated Edom and the fulfillment of God's promises regarding Esau's line despite his separation from the covenant people.
Biography
Adah, also referred to as Basemath, was one of the wives of Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah. She was a Hittite, the daughter of Elon (Gen.36.2; 26.34). Esau's marriage to Hittite women was a source of grief for his parents (Gen.26.34-35).
Adah gave birth to Eliphaz, who became one of the chiefs in the land of Edom (Gen.36.4,10). Eliphaz had several sons, including Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz, who also became chiefs in Edom (Gen.36.11-12,15-16).
In the genealogy of Esau, Adah is mentioned alongside Esau's other wives, Oholibamah and Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael (Gen.36.2-3). However, there is some confusion regarding the names of Esau's wives, as Basemath is also referred to as the daughter of Elon the Hittite (Gen.26.34), suggesting that Adah and Basemath may be two names for the same person.
Adah's role in the narrative is primarily as the mother of Eliphaz and an ancestor of the Edomites. Her Hittite origin underscores Esau's willingness to marry outside of the family lineage, in contrast to the endogamous marriages of Isaac and Israel (or 'Jacob').
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 36:2
"Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 36:4
"And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 36:10
"These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 36:12
"Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 36:16
"Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah."
Study Genesis →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עָדָה |
| Named | Hebrew | בָּֽשְׂמַת |
Adah
e narrative in Ge assigns to her two sons, Jabal the "father" of tent-dwelling people, and Jubal the "father" of all such as handle the harp and pipe." Josephus says that Lamech had 77 sons by Ada and Zillah (Ant., I, ii, 2).
(2) According to Ge 36:2,4,10,12,16, the Hittite wife of Esau, daughter of Elon, and mother of Eliphaz. In this chapter Esau's other wives are Oholibamah, a Hivite, and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael. The names are differently given elsewhere (Ge 26:34; 28:9). Basemath is said to be the daughter of Elon. The daughter of Ishmael is called Mahalath. In place of Oholibamah the Hivite we find Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite. Data are lacking for the solution of the problem.
Willis J. Beecher
(1) Apparently the seventh of the nine sons of Shimei, who is apparently the same with Shema, who is the fifth of the sons of Elpaal, who is the second of the