Original Word: עָדָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `adah
Pronunciation: ah-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-daw')
KJV: adorn, deck (self), pass by, take away
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to advance, i.e. pass on or continue
2. (causatively) to remove
3. (specifically) to bedeck (i.e. bring an ornament upon)

adorn, deck self, pass by, take away

A primitive root; to advance, i.e. Pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; specifically, to bedeck (i.e. Bring an ornament upon) -- adorn, deck (self), pass by, take away.

I. עָדָה verb pass on, advance (Arabic () pass by, also run = Ethiopic pass by; Aramaic עדי go along, go by (often for Hebrew עָבַר, Aph`el remove; Syriac pass by, come, with fall upon); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular עָדָה Job 28:8 the fierce lion hath not advanced upon it (that is, the way).

Hiph`il Participle מַעֲדֶה בֶּגֶד Proverbs 25:20 removing a garment (compare Prov 38:19 ᵑ7, Jonah 3:6 Hebrew and ᵑ7).

II. עָדָה verb ornament, deck oneself (Aramaic in derivatives עִידּוּת, ornament; compare perhaps עֲדִיתָא, scurf, scab; Arabic mange, scab, etc. [as sheathing, orexcrescence ?], also broad stone for covering grave, etc., Lane¹⁹⁷⁹); —

Qal Perfect2feminine singular וְעָדִית Ezekiel 23:40; Imperfect3feminine singular תַּעְדֶּה Isaiah 61:10, וַתַּ֫עַד Hosea 2:15; 2feminine singular תַּעְדִּי Jeremiah 4:30; Jeremiah 31:4, וַתַּעְדִּי Ezekiel 16:13; 1singular suffix וָאֶעְדֵךְ Ezekiel 16:11; Imperative masculine singular עֲדֵהנָֿא Job 40:10; — ornament; usually

1. a. reflexive, deck oneself with, with accusative of (woman's) ornaments, of bride Isaiah 61:10 (simile; compare הִלְבִּישׁ va); figurative of Israel Hosea 2:15; Jeremiah 31:4; Jerusalem Jeremiah 4:30 (with accusative of cognate meaning; "" לָבַשׁ), Ezekiel 16:13 (מַלְבּוּשֵׁךְ in "" clause), Ezekiel 23:40 (with accusative of congnate meaning with verb).

b. metaphor, עֲדֵהנָֿא גָאוֺן וגוי Job 40:10 deck now thyself [Job] with majesty.

2 with 2. accusative, וָאֶעְדֵךְ עֶ֑דִי Ezekiel 16:11 and I decked thee [Jerusalem] with finery (? read

Hiph`il ׳וָאַ).

Overview

The Hebrew verb עָדָה (ʿādâ, Strong’s 5710) appears ten times in the Old Testament, threading together two chief ideas: adorning or decking with splendor, and the movement or removal of something. Whenever it emerges, the term carries a moral and theological weight that presses readers to examine what is being adorned, who is doing the adorning, and whether that embellishment is rooted in God’s glory or in human vanity.

Contexts of Adornment: Personal, Bridal, Royal

1. Bridal imagery shines in Isaiah 61:10, where the redeemed declare, “He has clothed me with garments of salvation … as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Here, עָדָה sits at the heart of covenant joy, pointing to the Lord’s initiative in granting righteousness.
2. Jeremiah 31:4 pictures a restored Israel who will “again … adorn yourself with tambourines,” linking festive adornment to national resurrection.
3. Ezekiel 16:11–13 recounts the Lord’s lavish adorning of Jerusalem with bracelets, necklaces, gold, and silver, presenting Heaven’s generosity toward His covenant partner.
4. Job 40:10 employs the verb in royal challenge: “Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,” spotlighting divine majesty that no mortal can rival.

Adorned by God: Covenant Blessing and Restoration

Whenever the Lord adorns, the action is grace-laden. Whether He clothes His people (Isaiah 61:10) or personifies Jerusalem as a queen (Ezekiel 16:13), the adornment springs from covenant faithfulness. It signals restored dignity and renewed purpose, foreshadowing the New Testament vision of the Church “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).

False Adornment: Warnings against Idolatrous Allure

The same verb exposes counterfeit beauty:
• Jeremiah 4:30: “Though you adorn yourself with jewels of gold … you beautify yourself in vain.” External glamour cannot mask spiritual ruin.
• Ezekiel 23:40 and Hosea 2:13 depict women who “adorned” themselves to entice illicit lovers, emblematic of Israel’s flirtation with idols. Such usage turns adornment into a prophetic indictment, reminding readers that misplaced splendor ends in judgment.

Adorn and Remove: A Contrasting Pair

Proverbs 25:20 offers a surprising twist: “Like one who removes a garment on a cold day … is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” The same root that means “to adorn” can also carry the nuance of “to take away.” The proverb warns that ill-timed cheer strips comfort rather than adding it, underscoring that adornment without discernment becomes harmful.

The Path No Beast Has ‘Passed Over’

Job 28:8 uses the verb in another sense: “no ferocious lion has passed over it.” Here עָדָה speaks of movement, not ornament, yet the verse contributes to the larger theme—only God comprehends the path to wisdom, and neither proud beast nor proud man can traverse it without Him.

Prophetic and Eschatological Echoes

The bridal adornment of Isaiah 61 and Jeremiah 31 finds its climax in Revelation, where the Lamb’s bride descends “adorned” for eternal union. The Old Testament uses of עָדָה set the stage: true beauty comes from God’s redemptive act, not human ingenuity. Counterfeit adornment, though dazzling, hastens divine discipline.

Practical Ministry Considerations

• Worship: Emphasize that believers are “clothed with garments of salvation,” inviting grateful praise.
• Preaching: Contrast Isaiah 61:10 with Jeremiah 4:30 to confront superficial religiosity.
• Counseling: Use Proverbs 25:20 to guide sensitive engagement with the grieving—adding comfort rather than stripping it away.
• Discipleship: Encourage believers to seek the inward adornment praised in 1 Peter 3:4, echoing the Old Testament’s call to genuine righteousness.

Key References

Job 28:8; Job 40:10; Proverbs 25:20; Isaiah 61:10; Jeremiah 4:30; Jeremiah 31:4; Ezekiel 16:11; Ezekiel 16:13; Ezekiel 23:40; Hosea 2:13

וְעָ֥דִית וַתַּ֤עַד וַתַּעְדִּ֞י וָאֶעְדֵּ֖ךְ ואעדך ועדית ותעד ותעדי מַ֥עֲדֶה מעדה עֲדֵ֥ה עָדָ֖ה עדה תַּעְדִּ֣י תַּעְדֶּ֥ה תַעְדִּ֣י תעדה תעדי ‘ā·ḏāh ‘ă·ḏêh ‘āḏāh ‘ăḏêh aDah aDeh ma‘ăḏeh ma·‘ă·ḏeh Maadeh ta‘·deh ta‘·dî ṯa‘·dî ta‘deh ta‘dî ṯa‘dî taDeh taDi vaeDech vatTaad vattaDi veAdit wā’e‘dêḵ wā·’e‘·dêḵ wat·ta‘·dî wat·ta·‘aḏ watta‘aḏ watta‘dî wə‘āḏîṯ wə·‘ā·ḏîṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts