The First Adah: Wife of Lamech
The first Adah mentioned in Scripture appears in Genesis 4:19-20 as one of the two wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain. This passage tells us that "Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock." Here we see Adah as the mother of one of humanity's early pioneers in pastoral nomadism.
This brief mention of Adah occurs within the genealogy of Cain's line, showing how human civilization was developing even outside God's chosen lineage. Through her son Jabal, Adah contributed to the advancement of human culture and survival techniques. Yet this genealogy also serves as a contrast to the line of Seth, through which God would preserve the promise of redemption.
The Second Adah: Wife of Esau
The second Adah appears in Genesis 36:2-4 as one of Esau's wives. Scripture records that "Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite—also Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau." This Adah became the mother of Eliphaz and thus the grandmother of several Edomite clans.
This second Adah represents the nations that would surround Israel throughout their history. While she was not part of the covenant line through Jacob, her descendants would play significant roles in biblical history. The Edomites, descended through her lineage, would have complex relationships with Israel—sometimes as enemies, sometimes as neighbors, reminding us that God's sovereignty extends over all peoples and nations.
Lessons for Today's Believers
Both women named Adah remind us that God works through ordinary people to accomplish His purposes. Whether in the line of Cain or through Esau's family, these women contributed to the unfolding story of humanity that God was directing toward redemption. Their lives demonstrate that every person—regardless of their place in salvation history—has dignity and purpose in God's design.
For believers today, the mention of these women encourages us to see God's hand in the details of human history. Even those who seem peripheral to the main story of redemption play important roles in God's sovereign plan. We can trust that our own lives, however ordinary they may seem, matter to God and contribute to His eternal purposes.
The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster. (Proverbs 16:4)