Lexical Summary Adayah or Adayahu: Adayah or Adayahu Original Word: עֲדָיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Adaiah Or madayahuw {ad-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from adah and Yahh; Jah has adorned; Adajah, the name of eight Israelites -- Adaiah. see HEBREW adah see HEBREW Yahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom adah and Yah Definition "Yah has ornamented Himself," the name of a number of Isr. NASB Translation Adaiah (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲדָיָ֫ה(וּׅ proper name, masculine (׳י has decked himself); — 1 עֲדָיָ֫הוּ father of a Judaean captain 2Chronicles 23:1, ᵐ5 Αζεια, A Αδαια, ᵐ5L Αδαιου (genitive). Elsewhere עֲדָיָה: 2 grandfather of Josiah 2 Kings 22:1, ᵐ5 Εδεινα, A Ιεδιδα, ᵐ5L Οζιου (genitive) 3 a Levite 1 Chronicles 6:26, ᵐ5 Αζεια, A ᵐ5L Αδ(α)ια. 4 Benjamite 1 Chronicles 8:21, ᵐ5 Αβια, A Αλαια, ᵐ5L Αδαια. 5 a priest 1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:12, ᵐ5 Αδαια(ς). 6 two with foreign wives: a Ezra 10:29, ᵐ5 Αδα, ᵐ5L Αδαιας. b. Ezra 10:39, ᵐ5 Αδαια, ᵐ5L Αδδαιας. 7 a Judahite Nehemiah 11:5, ᵐ5. Οζ(ε)ια, ᵐ5L Αδαια. Topical Lexicon Overview Adaiah appears nine times in the Old Testament and names at least five distinct men whose lives touch monarchy, priesthood, military reform, and post-exilic repentance. The variety of settings in which the name occurs underscores the Lord’s ongoing work through ordinary yet faithful individuals scattered across Israel’s history. Royal Line: Grandfather of King Josiah (2 Kings 22:1) “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.” This Adaiah of Bozkath stands at a critical hinge in Judah’s story. Through his daughter Jedidah, he becomes the maternal grandfather of Josiah, the reformer-king whose commitment to the rediscovered Law sparked a nationwide renewal. Though Scripture records no direct act by Adaiah, his place in the genealogy reminds believers that covenant faithfulness can ripple through generations. The rural setting of Bozkath also illustrates how the Lord often raises key figures from obscure places to shape redemptive history. Levitical Heritage (1 Chronicles 6:41) Within the genealogy of the Temple musicians, Adaiah descends from Ethan of the Merarite branch. This lineage connects him to the worship ministry established by David and maintained by Solomon. His inclusion affirms the continuity of Levitical service, highlighting how worship leadership was carefully preserved even amid political upheavals. The Merarites were charged with transporting the heavier fittings of the Tabernacle; thus, Adaiah’s ancestry points to a heritage of steady, behind-the-scenes faithfulness that enabled Israel’s corporate worship. Benjamite Roots and Jerusalem Resettlement (1 Chronicles 8:21; Nehemiah 11:5) A second Adaiah appears in Benjamin’s genealogy (1 Chronicles 8:21) and resurfaces in the post-exilic list of Jerusalem residents (Nehemiah 11:5). The chronicler traces him through “Shelah,” identifying him with the clan that volunteered to repopulate the holy city after the exile. His willingness to leave ancestral lands for Jerusalem reflects sacrificial obedience to restore Israel’s spiritual and civic center. The move also fulfills earlier prophetic hopes that Benjamin would again share in the life of a purified Zion (Jeremiah 31:23). Priestly Service after the Exile (1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:12) Another Adaiah belongs to the house of Immer, one of the priestly families that returned with Zerubbabel. 1 Chronicles 9:12 records him among “heads of families, 242 in number,” while Nehemiah 11:12 lists 822 relatives “doing the work of the temple.” These parallel notices likely refer to the same priest or his line, showing how exiles re-established organized worship. The numerical details emphasize corporate responsibility; Adaiah’s household exemplifies how whole families can unite in sustained ministry. Military Reform with Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 23:1) “In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.” Here Maaseiah “son of Adaiah” stands among five officers who risked their lives to dethrone the usurping queen Athaliah and restore the rightful Davidic heir. Adaiah’s fatherhood of a reform-minded commander situates him within a godly network that protected messianic promise. The episode demonstrates how spiritual courage within families turns the tide against apostasy. Post-Exilic Repentance (Ezra 10:29, 39) Two different men named Adaiah are listed among those who had married foreign women during the early return. Their appearance in Ezra’s reform narrative underscores the seriousness of covenant purity. By publically repenting and “putting away” unlawful marriages, they model membership in a community willing to submit to Scripture even at personal cost. Their example warns against complacency yet offers hope, for genuine repentance restores fellowship with God. Theological Reflections 1. Generational Influence: From the grandfather of Josiah to the father of a reform officer, Adaiah’s name is repeatedly linked to descendants who shaped national destiny. Personal devotion often bears fruit in future generations. Practical Application Believers today can emulate Adaiah by cultivating households that honor God’s word, volunteering for unsung tasks that sustain corporate worship, standing against systemic evil, and practicing transparent repentance. In every era, those who quietly “adorn” the Lord’s name help usher in seasons of renewal. Forms and Transliterations וַ֠עֲדָיָה וַעֲדָיָ֔ה וַעֲדָיָ֧ה וַעֲדָיָֽה׃ וַעֲדָיָה֙ ועדיה ועדיה׃ עֲדָ֖יָה עֲדָיָ֛הוּ עֲדָיָ֧ה עֲדָיָֽה׃ עדיה עדיה׃ עדיהו ‘ă·ḏā·yā·hū ‘ă·ḏā·yāh ‘ăḏāyāh ‘ăḏāyāhū aDayah adaYahu vaadaYah wa‘ăḏāyāh wa·‘ă·ḏā·yāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 22:1 HEB: יְדִידָ֥ה בַת־ עֲדָ֖יָה מִבָּצְקַֽת׃ NAS: the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. KJV: the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. INT: Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath 1 Chronicles 6:41 1 Chronicles 8:21 1 Chronicles 9:12 2 Chronicles 23:1 Ezra 10:29 Ezra 10:39 Nehemiah 11:5 Nehemiah 11:12 9 Occurrences |
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