עָדִין
voluptuous
Definition
The Hebrew word עָדִין (ʻâdîyn) describes a person who is 'voluptuous' or 'given to pleasures,' specifically referring to someone who indulges in luxurious and sensual delights. It carries a negative connotation of excessive self-indulgence and a lifestyle focused on personal gratification. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 47:8, it is used to characterize the arrogant and complacent attitude of Babylon, which believed itself secure in its opulence.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 47:8. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against the city of Babylon. The prophet Isaiah taunts Babylon, personified as a queen, saying, 'you who are given to pleasures' (KJV), highlighting her false sense of security and decadent lifestyle that she believes will protect her from disaster. The context is one of divine condemnation for pride and sensual excess.
Etymology
The noun עָדִין (ʻâdîyn) is derived from the root עָדַן (ʻādan, H5727), which means 'to be soft,' 'delicate,' or 'to delight oneself.' This root is also the source for the name 'Eden' (עֵדֶן), the garden of delight. The meaning developed from the concept of softness or delicacy to one of luxurious indulgence and pleasure-seeking.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it illustrates the biblical theme of divine judgment against human pride and hedonism. In Isaiah 47, Babylon's 'voluptuous' self-assurance is directly contrasted with the sovereign judgment of God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this prophecy by emphasizing that a life focused on sensual security and luxury is ultimately fragile and offensive to God, who brings down the proud.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a city like Babylon represented the pinnacle of wealth, power, and cultural luxury. To be called 'voluptuous' (ʻâdîyn) would evoke an image of a ruling class living in extreme opulence and self-indulgence, blind to moral and spiritual realities. This stands in stark contrast to the biblical values of humility, dependence on God, and justice.
עָנֹג (ʻānōg, H6026) — denotes daintiness or luxury, often in a negative sense of being pampered (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:56). תַּעֲנוּג (taʻănûg, H8588) — means 'delight' or 'pleasure,' can be positive or negative (e.g., Proverbs 19:10).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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