Original Word: עַדְנָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Adna'
Pronunciation: ad-NAW
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-naw')
KJV: Adna
NASB: Adna
Word Origin: [from H5727 (עָדַן - reveled)]

1. pleasure
2. Adna, the name of two Israelites

Adna

From adan; pleasure; Adna, the name of two Israelites -- Adna.

see HEBREW adan

Word Origin
from the same as eden
Definition
two Isr.
NASB Translation
Adna (2).

עַדְנָא proper name, masculine 1. man with foreign wife Ezra 10:30 (Ginsb; עַדְנָה van d. H. Baer), ᵐ5. Αιδαινε, ᵐ5^L Εδνα.

2 Nehemiah 12:5, ᵐ5א Αδανας, ᵐ5^L Εδνας.

Name and Etymological Note

Adna (עַדְנָא) appears only twice in the Old Testament, identifying two distinct post-exilic Israelites. The name conveys the idea of “delight” or “pleasure,” a reminder that Israel’s restoration was meant to showcase the delight of Yahweh in His covenant people.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Ezra 10:30 – Listed among the descendants of Pahath-moab who had taken foreign wives and subsequently pledged to put them away.
2. Nehemiah 12:15 – Recorded as head of the priestly family of Harim in the days of Joiakim, son of Jeshua.

Historical Setting

Both mentions fall within the Persian period after the Babylonian exile. The first reference (Ezra) dates to the reforms led by Ezra around 458 BC; the second (Nehemiah) belongs to the time of Joiakim and very likely overlaps Nehemiah’s governorship (mid-fifth century BC). These notices lie in administrative or genealogical registers that document Israel’s fragile but determined reconstitution in the land.

Adna of Ezra 10: Covenant Discipline

Ezra’s reform confronts mixed marriages that threatened Israel’s identity and obedience to the Mosaic covenant (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). The list in Ezra 10 records those who acknowledged wrongdoing. Concerning this Adna, the text simply says:

“From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna… They pledged to put away their wives, and being guilty, they presented a guilt offering—a ram from the flock.” (Ezra 10:30, 44)

Although briefly mentioned, Adna’s willingness to repent models humble submission to the Word of God, illustrating how communal sin is addressed through confession and costly obedience.

Adna of Nehemiah 12: Faithful Priesthood

Nehemiah 12 catalogs priestly heads serving “in the days of Joiakim.” Verse 15 states:

“…of Harim, Adna.” (Nehemiah 12:15)

Here Adna stands not in rebuke but in commendation. The list confirms that priestly lines, disrupted by exile, were legitimately reestablished. Adna represents the continuity of authorized worship—essential for temple service, sacrificial observance, and teaching of the Law (Malachi 2:7).

Role in Covenant Faithfulness

Taken together, the two Adnas underscore complementary aspects of covenant life: repentance and stewardship. One answers the call to holiness by forsaking an unlawful union; the other preserves the sanctity of priestly ministry. Both actions guard Israel from syncretism and secure the purity of worship, anticipating the ultimate High Priest who would render a once-for-all atonement (Hebrews 7:26-27).

Ministry Significance

1. Personal Responsibility – Even a seemingly obscure Israelite is named in Scripture, reminding believers that individual choices matter in God’s redemptive program.
2. Leadership Integrity – The priest Adna exemplifies the necessity of qualified, faithful leaders for healthy congregational life (1 Timothy 3:1-7 speaks similarly for the church).
3. Holiness and Separation – The marriage reforms signal the importance of relational boundaries that encourage spiritual fidelity (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
4. Community Restoration – Both entries occur in contexts emphasizing rebuilding: walls, temple, and spiritual identity. Adna’s recorded obedience contributes to a corporate return to covenant blessings.

Lessons for Today’s Believer

• Confession and corrective action remain vital when confronted by God’s Word.
• Faithful administration of worship safeguards doctrinal purity and communal well-being.
• Every member, whether lay or clergy, figures into the broader tapestry of redemption; names like Adna are preserved so “that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

Connections with New Testament Themes

The juxtaposition of repentance (Ezra) and priestly service (Nehemiah) foreshadows the gospel synthesis of contrition and mediation fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Believers, now called “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), are similarly tasked with both personal holiness and sacrificial service, echoing the twin legacies of the two Adnas.

עַדְנָ֔א עַדְנָ֣א עדנא ‘aḏ·nā ‘aḏnā adNaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts