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Adah

One of the two wives of the Cainite Lamech, mother of Jabal and Jubal.

Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Hebrew Bible (Genesis), with other tellings (Masoretic Text (Hebrew Bible), Septuagint (Greek translation), Jewish and Christian rabbinic and patristic tradition) noted where relevant.

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Relationships

Spouse
Lamech (Cainite)
Children
Jabal · Jubal

Introduction

Adah is one of the two wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain, and the mother of Jabal, credited with pioneering tent-dwelling and herding, and Jubal, credited with the origin of music.

Note: this Adah is a different figure from the later Adah who is a wife of Esau; the two share a name but are unrelated in the text.

Family

Family

Adah is named alongside Zillah as one of Lamech's two wives in Genesis 4:19, the first polygamous marriage recorded in the Bible. Her sons Jabal and Jubal are each credited with founding a distinct aspect of early human culture, pastoral life and music respectively.

Sources

  1. Genesis 4:19-21 (primary text) — https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4%3A19-21&version=NRSVUE

This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above. Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.