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H5716 · Hebrew · Old Testament
עֲדִי
adi
Noun, masculine
ornament, jewel, adornment, finery

Definition

Adi refers to ornaments, jewels, or fine adornments — the decorative items that signify beauty, status, and honor. It appears about 13 times and is notably used both for bridal adornment (the beloved decking herself with jewels) and for God's lavishing of covenant beauty upon Israel.

Usage & Theological Significance

In Ezekiel 16, God describes Jerusalem as a bride whom He adorned with every kind of adi — gold, silver, and precious stones — to illustrate covenant blessing. The tragedy is that Israel used this beauty for harlotry. Jeremiah 2:32 asks whether a bride would forget her adi — making God's being forgotten by His people even more shocking. In Isaiah 61:10, the messianic figure adorns himself like a bridegroom with his adi, connecting adornment with eschatological joy and bridal imagery that runs through the entire Bible into Revelation 21.

Key Bible Verses

Ezekiel 16:11 I adorned you with jewelry [adi]: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck.
Isaiah 61:10 As a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself [adi] with jewels.
Jeremiah 2:32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry [adi], a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me.
2 Samuel 1:24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned [adi] your garments with ornaments of gold.
Proverbs 25:12 Like an earring of gold... is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

Related Words

External Resources

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