Hittite wife of Esau; mother of Eliphaz
Adah
Named in 6 verses of Genesis, first in Genesis 26:34.
עָדָהAdah
בָּֽשְׂמַתBasemath
Also called Basemath.
The name means “an assembly.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Adah Written by AI
Adah, also referred to as Basemath, was one of the wives of Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah. She was a Hittite, the daughter of Elon (Genesis 36:2). Esau's marriage to Hittite women was a source of grief for his parents (Genesis 26:34 to 35). Adah gave birth to Eliphaz, who became one of the chiefs in the land of Edom (Genesis 36:4). Eliphaz had several sons, including Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz, who also became chiefs in Edom (Genesis 36:11 to 12). In the genealogy of Esau, Adah is mentioned alongside Esau's other wives, Oholibamah and Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 36:2 to 3). However, there is some confusion regarding the names of Esau's wives, as Basemath is also referred to as the daughter of Elon the Hittite (Genesis 26:34), suggesting that Adah and Basemath may be two names for the same person. Adah's role in the narrative is primarily as the mother of Eliphaz and an ancestor of the Edomites. Her Hittite origin underscores Esau's willingness to marry outside of the family lineage, in contrast to the endogamous marriages of Isaac and Israel (or 'Jacob').
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Adah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Ornament. (1.) The first of Lamech’s two wives, and the mother of Jabal and Jubal (Gen. 4:19, 20, 23).
(2.) The first of Esau’s three wives, the daughter of Elon the Hittite (Gen. 36:2,4), called also Bashemath (26:34).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names her
- Genesis 26:34
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.
- Genesis 36:2
Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite,
- Genesis 36:4
And Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath gave birth to Reuel,
- Genesis 36:10
These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel son of Esau’s wife Basemath.
- Genesis 36:12
Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.
- Genesis 36:16
Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.