"And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Adah Meaning in the Bible
Adah
girl
Adah means "Ornament; Beauty; Adorned", a girl's name of Hebrew origin. Adah appears in the King James Bible, and Genesis 4:19 is the passage most often tied to it. Adah's name — 'ornament' — reminds us that God adorns every person with inherent worth and beauty. Regardless of our circumstances, we bear the ornament of being created in God's image.
Is Adah in the Bible?
Yes — Adah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 4:19.
Pronunciation:/AY-duh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningOrnament; Beauty; Adorned
What does Adah mean?
Adah is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Ornament; Beauty; Adorned". Adah means "ornament" or "beauty" in Hebrew. Two women named Adah appear in Genesis. The first was one of Lamech's two wives in the line of Cain — her son Jabal became "the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle."
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What does Adah mean in the Bible?
Adah means "Ornament; Beauty; Adorned" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Adah means "ornament" or "beauty" in Hebrew. Two women named Adah appear in Genesis. The first was one of Lamech's two wives in the line of Cain — her son Jabal became "the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle."
The second Adah was one of Esau's wives, also called Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. Through her line, some of the Edomite clans descended.
Both Adahs lived in complex family situations — one in a polygamous household in the line of Cain, the other in Esau's household. Despite their challenging circumstances, the meaning of their name — "ornament" — suggests the beauty that God places in every human life, regardless of the situations into which they are born.
Where does Adah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Adah is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 4:19. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite."
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Which books of the Bible mention Adah?
Adah is mentioned across 1 book of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Adah?
Adah's name — 'ornament' — reminds us that God adorns every person with inherent worth and beauty. Regardless of our circumstances, we bear the ornament of being created in God's image.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Adah:
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Word Meaning
Bride (כַּלָּה (kallah))
The beloved partner — the chosen, adorned, and cherished one united to the bridegroom.
Word Meaning
Beauty/Glory (תִּפְאָרָה (Tipharah))
Beauty, glory, and splendor — the majestic adornment of God and His works.
Strong's
Strong's H3618 — Bride
כַּלָּה (kallah) • The beloved partner — the chosen, adorned, and cherished one united to the bridegroom.
What names are related to Adah?
Names like Adah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Ornament; Beauty; Adorned" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Adah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Adah
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Adah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes — Adah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 4:19.
Adah means "Ornament; Beauty; Adorned." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 4:19, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Hebrew. Adah comes into English from Hebrew and carries the sense "Ornament; Beauty; Adorned." It appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 4:19.
Common questions about the name Adah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Adah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Adah?
You can read every verse where Adah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.