עֲדָיָה

𐤏𐤃𐤉𐤄

Adayah

H5718 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עדה to ornament, adorn, decorate

Definition

A masculine personal name meaning 'Yah has adorned' or 'Yahweh has ornamented,' referring to divine adornment or honor. Used as the name of multiple individuals in biblical texts, primarily signifying men of Israelite or Judahite background. The name, theophoric in form, expresses reverence or dependence on YHWH as the one who bestows adornment or honor.

Semantic Range

male personal name, Yahweh has adorned, ornamentation by God, theophoric element, Israelite and Judahite individual names

Root / Etymology

Formed from the verb עָדָה (ʿādāh, to ornament, adorn, bedeck) and the theophoric suffix יָהּ (Yah, a short form of YHWH), yielding the meaning 'Yah(weh) has adorned.' The alternate spelling עֲדָיָהוּ (Adayahū) preserves the full theophoric suffix -yahu, typical of names from the First Temple period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עֲדָיָה is attested as the name of at least eight individuals in biblical narrative, including priests, Levites, and Judahites. The occurrence of both עֲדָיָה and the longer form עֲדָיָהוּ reflects ancient Israelite naming conventions, where the theophoric element (Yah or Yahu) expresses relationship or blessing from the deity YHWH. Some occurrences relate specifically to post-exilic Judahite populations (e.g., in Nehemiah), while others are situated in monarchic genealogies. In English translations, the name is often rendered 'Adaiah,' but this obscures the theophoric nuance and connection to YHWH. The name is only used as a personal name and not as a title or descriptive term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עֲדָיָהוּ; from עָדָה and יָהּ; Jah has adorned; Adajah, the name of eight Israelites; Adaiah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עדה (ʿ-d-h) — ornament, adorn, decorate, bedeck

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H112 אִדּוֹ Timely One
H4572 מַעֲדַי Adorned One
H4573 מַעֲדְיָה Yahweh-is-Ornament
H5709 עֲדָא they caused to pass away
H5710 עָדָה Adorned One

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5718-03 וַ/עֲדָיָ֔ה vaadayah HC/Np and Adaiah and Yah-has-adorned 5
H5718-01 עֲדָ֖יָה adayah HNp Adaiah Yah has adorned 3
H5718-02 עֲדָיָ֛הוּ adayahu HNp Adaiah Yah Has Adorned 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5718-01 2 Kings 22:1 עֲדָ֖יָה adayah HNp of Adaiah Yah has adorned
H5718-03 Ezra 10:29 וַ/עֲדָיָ֔ה vaadayah HC/Np and-Adaiah and Yah-has-adorned
H5718-03 Ezra 10:39 וַ/עֲדָיָֽה vaadayah HC/Np and Adaiah and Yah-has-adorned
H5718-01 Nehemiah 11:5 עֲדָיָ֧ה adayah HNp Adaiah Yah has adorned
H5718-03 Nehemiah 11:12 וַ֠/עֲדָיָה vaadayah HC/Np and Adaiah and Yah-has-adorned
H5718-01 1 Chronicles 6:26 עֲדָיָֽה adayah HNp Adaiah Yah has adorned
H5718-03 1 Chronicles 8:21 וַ/עֲדָיָ֧ה vaadayah HC/Np Adaiah and Yah-has-adorned
H5718-03 1 Chronicles 9:12 וַ/עֲדָיָה֙ vaadayah HC/Np and Adaiah and Yah-has-adorned
H5718-02 2 Chronicles 23:1 עֲדָיָ֛הוּ adayahu HNp Adaiah Yah Has Adorned