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NASB | Genesis 3:20 ¶ Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 3:20 ¶ The man named his wife Eve (life spring, life giver), because she was the mother of all the living. |
Bible Question:
We see that Adam did not name the woman Eve when she was brought to him by God in Gen 2:23 after he had given names to other animals nor did he name her Eve when God blessed them to be fruitful and multiply the earth (1:18). Now, Adam named her Eve. Does it render the thought that such action explained her being in subordination to Adam based on God's punishment as per 3:16 which also in accord with ruling status over other living creatures as appointed in 1:26 through naming them in 2:19? My points are: 1/ Was Eve subordinate to Adam only after the Fall? 2/ Did Adam's action of giving name to Eve signify his ruling power over her? Thanks and Shalom Azure |
Bible Answer: Shalom Azure, I will try to not only answer the 'academic side' of your post, but I am feeling that there also is an underlying essence that could be addressed. In Gen 2:23, Adam called her "woman" -having being made from "man." (in Hebrew the term for woman is "Isha", a derivative of the name for man "Ish"). That name defined the TYPE of being she was, a "woman". The number 802 in Strong's is actually, ishshah. "woman" He then named her Eve after God expelled them from Eden. (Genesis 3:20) This name he gave her, ( Hebrew, Chava ), means "giver or source of life". It was at this time Adam identified the God-given ROLE that Eve/ Chava would have, namely to be the mother of all humankind. The number 2332 in Strong's is actually, Chavvah, "life giver" btw, The Hebrew (qara) is the word translated as called, and also as named. I would answer your first question in the negative, Was Eve subordinate to Adam only after the Fall, Because God commanded Adam not to eat the forbidden fruit before Eve came on the scene. This would point to Eve's subordination to Adam before the fall. Your second query could be answered in the positive, but with clarification. 'Did Adam's action of giving name to Eve signify his ruling power over her' No, for the reason Adam was doing the same thing he did for all the animals, he named them all. So I am not sure if I agree with your choice of words, 'ruling power'. I would say that God was the ruler, and his directives to Eve would be falling under his submission to God. He was never meant to have a despotic reign. Our God is however a God of order, not chaos. 1Cor 11:3 clears up any confusion as to authority, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God. So, as Adam was first, that would necessarily place Eve in a position to obey Adam's authority, as being a helper to him, -but. My feelings are that since they were both to become one flesh, This means to me equal, yet separate. So, 'ruling power' just seems a little harsh. In Him, keliy |