Original Word: אֲדָמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: adamah
Pronunciation: ah-dah-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-aw-maw')
KJV: country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land
NASB: land, ground, earth, soil, dust, lands, country
Word Origin: [from H119 (אָדַם - dyed red)]

1. soil (from its general redness)

country, earth, ground, husbandman ry, land

From 'adam; soil (from its general redness) -- country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.

see HEBREW 'adam

Word Origin
from the same as adam
Definition
ground, land
NASB Translation
country (1), dirt (1), dust (3), earth (32), farming* (1), fields (1), ground (64), land (112), lands (2), soil (7).

אֲדָמָה₂₂₄ noun feminine ground, land (as tilled, German bebaut ? Dl^{Pr 105}, but Fleisch. (Merx^{Archiv 1, 236 f}) compare Arabic , skin, as smoothly covering & close-fitting; √ דם compare Arabic smear (spread over surface); compare also Nö^{ZMG 1886, 737}) — ׳א Genesis 1:25 +; construct אַדְמַת Genesis 47:20 +; suffix אַדְמָתִי Job 31:38 2t. etc.; plural אֲדָמוֺת Psalm 49:12 —

1 ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance) Genesis 2:5,9; Genesis 3:17,23; Genesis 4:2,3,12; Genesis 5:29; Genesis 8:21; Genesis 19:25; Genesis 47:23; Exodus 34:26 (all J); Exodus 23:19 (E) Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 11:17; Deuteronomy 26:2,10,15; Deuteronomy 28:4,11,18,33,42,51; Deuteronomy 30:9; 2 Samuel 9:10; Isaiah 1:7; Isaiah 28:24; Isaiah 30:23 (twice in verse); Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 7:20; Jeremiah 14:4; Jeremiah 25:33; Haggai 1:11; Malachi 3:11; Psalm 83:11; Psalm 105:35; Proverbs 12:11; Proverbs 28:19; 1 Chronicles 27:26; Nehemiah 10:36; Nehemiah 10:38 compare figurative Job 5:6 ("" עפר); personified Job 31:38; Joel 1:10; also ׳אִישׁ הָא Genesis 9:20 (J) tiller, husbandman; meton. ׳אֹהֵב א2Chronicles 26:10 i.e. lover of husbandry (or do these point to earlier meaning tillage ? compare Dl^{Pr 105}) ׳אִישׁ עֹבֵד א Zechariah 13:5.

2 piece of ground, landed property Genesis 47:18,19 (3 t. in verse); Genesis 47:20,22 (twice in verse); Genesis 47:23,26 (all J) Psalm 49:12 (plural)

3 earth as material substance; of which man is made Genesis 2:7 (׳עָפָד מִןהָֿא); so animals Genesis 2:19 (׳מִןהָֿא); altar Exodus 20:24; earthen vessels ׳חַרְשֵׂי א Isaiah 45:9; on head, sign of woe 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2; 2 Samuel 15:32; of contrition Nehemiah 9:1 (compare אֵפֶר, עָפָר; ׳מַעֲבֵה הָא 1 Kings 7:46 compare 2 Chronicles 4:17 (firmness of earth, firm earth, clay-ground, for casting-moulds; or clay-moulds (Berthau) ? or is this n.pr. ? Klo proposes בַּמְּעָרָה הָאֲדֻמָּה in the red cave); mule-loads of 2 Kings 5:17; in it lie the dead מִיְּשֵׁנֵי אַדְמַתעָֿפָר Daniel 12:2 compare Genesis 3:19,23; Psalm 146:4.

4 ground as earth's visible surface; ׳רֶמֶס הָא Genesis 1:25; Genesis 6:20 (both P) Hosea 2:20 compare Genesis 7:8; Genesis 9:2 (J ?) Leviticus 20:25 (P) Deuteronomy 4:18; Ezekiel 38:20; also Genesis 4:10 (J) Isaiah 24:21; Amos 3:5; Zephaniah 1:2,3; as wet with dew 2 Samuel 17:12; rain 1 Kings 17:14; 1 Kings 18:1; compare personified אֶתמִּֿיהָ ׳מָּֽצְתָה הָא Numbers 16:30 (P) ("" ארץ Numbers 16:32), see Numbers 16:31; of particular place, spot קֹדֶשׁ ׳א Exodus 3:5 especially as abode of man Genesis 4:11; Exodus 10:6; Deuteronomy 4:10,40; Deuteronomy 12:1; 1 Samuel 20:31; 2 Samuel 14:7; often ׳מְּנֵי הָא Genesis 2:6; Genesis 4:14; Genesis 6:1,7; Genesis 7:4,23; Genesis 8:8,13; Exodus 32:12; Exodus 33:16; Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 6:15; Deuteronomy 7:6 (all J, D) 1 Samuel 20:15 9t.

5 land, territory, country (= ארץ) Genesis 47:19 (J) Leviticus 20:24 (J ? — "" ארץ) construct before proper name מִצְרַיִם ׳א Genesis 47:20,26; יְהוּדָה ׳א Isaiah 19:17; יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳א Ezekiel 11:17 16t. Ezekiel; especially of land as promised or given by ׳י to his people = Canaan Genesis 28:15; Exodus 20:12; Numbers 11:12; Numbers 32:11 (all J ?) Deuteronomy 5:16 16t. Deuteronomy, Joshua; 1 Kings 8:34,40 +; Jeremiah 16:15; Jeremiah 24:10; Jeremiah 25:5; Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 28:25; 2Chronicles 6:25,31; 7:20; 33:8; compare also Deuteronomy 12:19; Deuteronomy 21:23; Deuteronomy 29:27; 2 Kings 17:23; Isaiah 6:11; Isaiah 7:16; Isaiah 14:1 +, Ezekiel 34:13,27 +, Nehemiah 9:25; (שְׁמֵנָה ׳א), — in all with 41 t.; + Joel 2:21 (personified); הַקֹּדֶשׁ ׳א Zechariah 2:16 (compare below 4 above); hence also as Yahweh's land Deuteronomy 32:43; Isaiah 14:2; Zechariah 9:16; 2Chronicles 7:20.

6 whole earth, inhabited earth (seldom; compare also ׳מְּנֵי הָא below 4 above) Genesis 12:3; Genesis 28:14 (both J compare אֶרֶץ Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4) Deuteronomy 14:2; Amos 3:2; Isaiah 24:21.

7. proper name, of a location city in Naphtali (as built compare אָדָם 4 ? = ed-Dâme ?) west of L. Gennes. Joshua 19:36 see Di.

Overview

אֲדָמָה occurs about two-hundred twenty-five times in the Old Testament and portrays the cultivated soil, the productive ground, and the territorial homeland that comes under Yahweh’s blessing or curse. While אֲדָמָה overlaps with אֶרֶץ (“earth/land”) it is generally the nearer, humbler word, stressing the tilled soil from which humanity was formed and upon which covenant life is worked out.

Creation and the Origin of Humanity

• Genesis 2:7 “Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”
• The intimate link between אָדָם (man) and אֲדָמָה (ground) teaches creatureliness, accountability, and stewardship.
• Genesis 2:15 shows the original mandate: “to cultivate and keep” the ground, establishing labor as worship.

The Fall: Curse and Frustration

• Genesis 3:17-19—curse on the ground, painful toil, and inevitable return to dust.
• Romans 8:20-22 echoes this: creation subjected to futility, awaiting redemption.
• Genesis 4:10-12 shows אֲדָמָה as witness and avenger: “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” The defiled soil refuses to yield strength for Cain, illustrating moral consequences that play out agriculturally.

Post-Flood Renewal

• Genesis 8:21 “Never again will I curse the ground because of man…”—divine pledge that seasons will continue, allowing redemptive history to progress.
• Noah is called “a man of the soil” (Genesis 9:20); cultivation resumes under grace.

Covenant Land and Inheritance

• The Patriarchal promises revolve around a specific אֲדָמָה (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:18-21).
• Deuteronomy amplifies the theme: prosperity or barrenness of the ground depends on Israel’s obedience (Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:4, 18, 23-24).
• Sabbatical and Jubilee legislation (Leviticus 25:2-4, 23) treats the land as Yahweh’s possession, requiring periods of rest.

Worship and Ritual

• Exodus 20:24 commands simple “altars of earth,” linking sacrifice to the very soil from which humans came.
• Blood guilt defiles the land (Numbers 35:33), necessitating just punishment or atonement.
• Firstfruits offerings (Deuteronomy 26:1-11) celebrate the harvest of the ground and acknowledge God’s ownership.

Socio-Economic and Ethical Dimensions

• Laws of gleaning (Leviticus 19:9-10) and prohibition on moving boundary stones (Deuteronomy 19:14) protect the vulnerable and preserve family inheritance.
• Proverbs extols diligent cultivation (Proverbs 12:11) and warns against neglect (Proverbs 24:30-34).
• The land “vomits out” its inhabitants when polluted by immorality (Leviticus 18:24-28), underscoring holiness as a condition for remaining in the land.

Prophetic Usage: Judgment and Restoration

• Drought, famine, and desolation of the ground are prophetic signs of covenant breach (Jeremiah 12:4; Joel 1:10-12).
• Conversely, restoration imagery abounds:

– Isaiah 30:23 “He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground… the earth will produce rich and abundant food.”

– Zechariah 8:12 “For there will be a sowing of peace; the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their dew.”
• The promised messianic age envisions a healed אֲדָמָה, foreshadowing the New Heavens and New Earth.

Contrast with אֶרֶץ

אֶרֶץ can denote the whole earth, a region, or even the underworld, whereas אֲדָמָה is more restricted to arable soil and covenant territory. Both words can overlap (e.g., Genesis 1:25; 1:29), yet deliberate shifts often highlight theological points—judgment on the global “earth” versus blessing on Israel’s “ground.”

Theological and Ministry Significance

• Humility: remembering human origin “dust of the ground” fosters dependence on the Creator.
• Stewardship: faithful cultivation and environmental care flow from the creation mandate and covenant ethics.
• Accountability: moral choices have tangible effects on the land; personal and national sin leaves ecological scars.
• Hope: the ground cursed in Genesis will ultimately share in redemption (Isaiah 35:1; Romans 8:21), encouraging perseverance and mission.

Selected Key References

Genesis 2:5-7; 3:17-19; 4:10-12; 8:21

Exodus 20:24

Leviticus 18:25-28; 25:2-4

Numbers 35:33-34

Deuteronomy 11:17; 26:15

1 Kings 18:38-39

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

Psalm 104:14

Proverbs 28:19

Isaiah 1:19; 32:15

Jeremiah 23:10

Ezekiel 36:8-11

Joel 2:21-24

Haggai 1:10-11

Zechariah 8:12

Together these passages reveal אֲדָמָה as more than soil; it is the living stage upon which God’s redemptive drama unfolds, responding to human obedience or rebellion and awaiting final restoration through the work of the last Adam, Jesus Christ.

אֲדָמָ֑ה אֲדָמָ֖ה אֲדָמָ֤ה אֲדָמָֽה׃ אֲדָמָה֙ אֲדָמָה֮ אֲדָמֽוֹת׃ אַ֠דְמָתֶךָ אַ֭דְמָתוֹ אַדְמַ֖ת אַדְמַ֣ת אַדְמַ֤ת אַדְמַ֥ת אַדְמַ֨ת אַדְמַתְכֶ֑ם אַדְמַתְכֶ֔ם אַדְמַתְכֶ֖ם אַדְמַתְכֶ֗ם אַדְמַתְכֶֽם׃ אַדְמַת־ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ אַדְמָֽתְךָ֙ אַדְמָת֖וֹ אַדְמָתְךָ֖ אַדְמָתְךָ֮ אַדְמָתִ֔י אַדְמָתִ֣י אַדְמָתִי֙ אַדְמָתֵ֔נוּ אַדְמָתֵ֖נוּ אַדְמָתֵ֗נוּ אַדְמָתֶ֑ךָ אַדְמָתֶֽךָ׃ אַדְמָתָ֑ם אַדְמָתָ֔ם אַדְמָתָ֖הּ אַדְמָתָ֖ם אַדְמָתָ֛ם אַדְמָתָֽם׃ אַדְמָתָם֒ אַדְמָתָם֙ אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ אַדְמָתוֹ֙ אדמה אדמה׃ אדמות׃ אדמת אדמת־ אדמתה אדמתו אדמתו׃ אדמתי אדמתך אדמתך׃ אדמתכם אדמתכם׃ אדמתם אדמתם׃ אדמתנו בָּאֲדָמָ֑ה בָּאֲדָמָה֙ באדמה הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה הָֽאֲדָמָ֛ה הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃ הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ הָאֲדָמָ֑ה הָאֲדָמָ֔ה הָאֲדָמָ֖ה הָאֲדָמָ֗ה הָאֲדָמָ֡ה הָאֲדָמָ֣ה ׀ הָאֲדָמָ֤ה הָאֲדָמָ֨ה הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ הָאֲדָמָה֙ הָאָ֡רֶץ האדמה האדמה׃ הארץ וְאַדְמָתְךָ֖ וְאַדְמָתֵ֙נוּ֙ וְאַדְמָתֵֽנוּ׃ וְהָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וְהָאֲדָמָ֖ה וַאֲדָמָ֖ה וַאֲדָמָ֣ה וּ֝מֵאֲדָמָ֗ה ואדמה ואדמתך ואדמתנו ואדמתנו׃ והאדמה ומאדמה לְאַדְמַ֣ת לְאַדְמַ֥ת לְאַדְמָת֑וֹ לָאֲדָמָֽה׃ לאדמה׃ לאדמת לאדמתו ’ă·ḏā·māh ’ă·ḏā·mō·wṯ ’aḏ·mā·ṯāh ’aḏ·mā·ṯām ’aḏ·mā·ṯe·ḵā ’aḏ·mā·ṯə·ḵā ’aḏ·mā·ṯê·nū ’aḏ·mā·ṯî ’aḏ·mā·ṯōw ’aḏ·maṯ ’aḏ·maṯ- ’aḏ·maṯ·ḵem ’ăḏāmāh ’ăḏāmōwṯ ’aḏmaṯ ’aḏmaṯ- ’aḏmāṯāh ’aḏmāṯām ’aḏmāṯeḵā ’aḏmāṯəḵā ’aḏmāṯênū ’aḏmāṯî ’aḏmaṯḵem ’aḏmāṯōw adaMah adaMot adMat admaTah admaTam admatChem adMatecha admaTenu admaTi admaTo bā’ăḏāmāh bā·’ă·ḏā·māh baadaMah hā’ăḏāmāh hā’āreṣ hā·’ă·ḏā·māh hā·’ā·reṣ haadaMah haAretz lā’ăḏāmāh lā·’ă·ḏā·māh laadaMah lə’aḏmaṯ lə’aḏmāṯōw lə·’aḏ·mā·ṯōw lə·’aḏ·maṯ leadMat leadmaTo ū·mê·’ă·ḏā·māh ūmê’ăḏāmāh umeadaMah vaadaMah veadmateCha veadmaTenu vehaadaMah wa’ăḏāmāh wa·’ă·ḏā·māh wə’aḏmāṯəḵā wə’aḏmāṯênū wə·’aḏ·mā·ṯə·ḵā wə·’aḏ·mā·ṯê·nū wə·hā·’ă·ḏā·māh wəhā’ăḏāmāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts