Girls · Hebrew · Old Testament · rising · Primeval
Ada
/AY-duh/
עָדָה
"Adornment; beauty; noble"
Genesis 4:19
RoleOne of the earliest named women in the Bible
Etymology
From the Hebrew root 'adah' (עָדָה), meaning to adorn or to put on an ornament. Related to 'adi' (ornament, jewel). The name speaks of beauty that is put on, displayed, or celebrated.
Who they were
Ada (also spelled Adah) is one of the first women named in the Bible. She was one of the two wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain. Her son Jabal was the ancestor of those who dwell in tents and have livestock — the first nomadic pastoralists — and her other son Jubal was the ancestor of all who play the harp and flute — the first musicians. Through her children, Ada is symbolically connected to two fundamental aspects of human culture: pastoral life and music. A second Adah appears later in Genesis as one of Esau's wives, a Hittite woman. The name has experienced a significant revival in modern times, prized for its simplicity, antiquity, and elegance.
Family
- Spouse
- Lamech (line of Cain)
- Children
- Jabal,Jubal
Character qualities
- Foundational presence
- Mother of culture-makers
Where they appear
Themes
Variants & related forms
Adah · Adda
Read their story
Ada's story begins in Genesis.
The full passage is at Genesis 4:19. Any modern translation will do — the NLT and NIV are the most readable; the ESV and NKJV stay close to the wording the church has used for centuries.
Find a Bible to read it in →