עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת
While the Hebrew word ארץ – probably related to the English earth – means country, land and, well earth, the word אדמה means ground. אדמה is the more humble, (ironically) down-to-earth word, of the same root as אדם – Adam or man, he who comes from the ground and will return to it.
אדמה also appears in the expression עלי אדמות – the exclamatory on earth.
For example:
זה המקום האחרון עלי אדמות שחשבנו שנמצא אותו.
This is the last place on earth that we thought we’d find him.
עלי is the poetic (original) form of על – on.
אדמות is the plural of אדמה, so that עלי אדמות means literally on grounds.
