אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah)
a.da.mah
Adamah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun adamah primarily denotes the ground, land, or earth as a tangible substance. It often carries the specific nuance of soil that is tilled or cultivated to yield sustenance, distinguishing it from the abstract concept of the cosmos. In this sense, it refers to the physical earth as material, whether as a piece of landed property, a territory, or the visible surface beneath our feet.
While most commonly used for the general earth or inhabited land, the sources note a specific proper noun usage: Adamah was a city located in the tribe of Naphtali. This geographical reference appears in Joshua 19:36, marking one of the few instances where the word identifies a specific place rather than the ground itself.
The term’s connection to agricultural life highlights its role as the source of livelihood. It is not merely dirt, but the productive earth that supports human existence. This concrete meaning grounds many biblical metaphors, linking human labor and divine provision directly to the physical soil.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word adamah points to the ground beneath our feet, not as an abstract idea of the universe, but as tangible soil ready for work. It is the earth that yields food and sustains life through human effort. This connection reminds us that our daily bread comes from a partnership between divine provision and our own labor.
While most often used for general land or territory, this specific entry highlights its use as a proper noun in Joshua 19:36. Here, adamah names a city in the tribe of Naphtali. This rare usage shows how the word can anchor people to a specific place, grounding their identity in the physical land God assigned to them.
Whether referring to fertile soil or a named town, the term emphasizes stability and belonging. It invites us to appreciate the concrete reality of our surroundings and the community that shares them. We find comfort in knowing that our lives are rooted in real places and real relationships, supported by the earth that holds us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Adamah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/אֲדָמָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 19:36
Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
This occurrence uniquely uses the word as a proper noun to identify Adamah, a specific city in the territory of Naphtali.