Difference between revisions of "Gen 2:18-25"

Revision as of 11:28, 25 October 2013

The Old Testament > Genesis > Chapter 2

Questions

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Verse 23

• Does this verse help us understand what the story of Eve's creation teaches us? Given the important role naming has played in this story, is there anything significant about the fact that Adam names Eve? If so, what?

Verse 24

• Who is speaking in this verse, Adam or the writer? What does it mean to leave father and mother? What does it imply? What does it mean to cleave to a person? What does it mean to be one flesh?

Verse 25

• What things might the couple's nakedness signify? Why should they be ashamed? What is the purpose of this verse?

Lexical notes

Verse 22

• woman -- The English word "woman" does not, in fact, have a meaning of one being taken out of man. See Related links for a proper etymology.
• Prior to verse 23, the Hebrew word translated "man" has been "adam," from which Adam gets his name. As an adjective, "adam" means "ruddy." When not used as a name, the noun means "earth." In vese 23, however, the word used is "ish." Its meaning (other than "man") isn't certain, but it may mean something like "that which exists." When used to mean "man," "adam" refers to either an individual or to humans in general. The word "ish," however, refers to specific individuals rather than to men or humans in general. The Hebrew word translated "woman" is "isha." Obviously it sounds very much like "ish," the word for "man," just as the English "woman" sounds very much like "man." "Isha" may be a variation of "ish."

Exegesis

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Related links

• Etymology of the Woman