אַדְמָה (ad.mah)

The name Admah identifies a specific city located in the Vale of Siddim, a region associated with the plains near the Dead Sea. Its meaning is straightforward: "red earth" or "red ground." This etymology likely reflects the distinctive soil color of the area where the settlement stood.

Although the name appears only four times in Scripture, its occurrences are concentrated in Genesis and Hosea. In Genesis 14:2, Admah is listed among the kings who joined a coalition against Sodom, highlighting its political significance during that era. Later, the prophet Hosea uses the city as a symbol of sudden destruction, grouping it with Zoar to illustrate God's judgment on sin (Hosea 11:8). The brevity of its biblical record contrasts with the weight of its symbolic use.

Translators consistently render Admah as a proper noun, preserving its identity as a place rather than a common descriptor. The connection between the name and the physical landscape serves as a reminder that biblical geography often carries literal meaning alongside theological significance. The city’s fate became a cautionary example for later readers, linking the red earth of its foundation to the ashes of its destruction.