AISBT ReaderGen 2:21–24: the side, the woman, one flesh
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language · Gen 2:21–24 · ✓ Approved

Gen 2:21–24: the side, the woman, one flesh

Says God casts תַּרְדֵּמָה on the man (BDB "deep sleep") and takes אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו; BDB glosses the noun "rib, side." Elsewhere it is the side of the tabernacle (Exod 26:20, וּלְצֶלַע) and the side rooms of the temple (1 Kgs 6:5, צְלָעוֹת); the BSB has "ribs." God וַיִּבֶן ("built," BDB "build") the side into a woman. The man answers עֶצֶם מֵעֲצָמַי וּבָשָׂר מִבְּשָׂרִי, the kinship formula of Gen 29:14 (עַצְמִי וּבְשָׂרִי) and 2 Sam 5:1. אִשָּׁה and מֵאִישׁ make a sound-play, not an etymology: BDB enters "woman, wife, female" and "man (= vir)" under different roots. Gen 2:24 opens עַל־כֵּן: a man leaves father and mother, וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ, "and clings to his wife"; BDB glosses the verb "cling, cleave, keep close" (BSB "be united to"). The MT וְהָיוּ לְבָשָׂר אֶחָד has no "the two" (see var.Gen.2.24.the-two).

Uncertain Who speaks 2:24: the narrator, commenting, or the man, continuing. No lean is taken here.

Says In Matt 19:4–5 Jesus says that the Creator said these words, joining Gen 1:27 and 2:24; Mark 10:6–8 joins them too. Matthew thus presents 2:24 as God's word whichever human voice speaks in Gen 2. The divorce question that occasions it is outside this note. Eph 5:31–32 applies the verse to Christ and the church.

Claims

  • Saysתַּרְדֵּמָה (BDB "deep sleep"); the noun "rib, side" (tabernacle, temple); וַיִּבֶן "build"; kinship formula (Gen 29:14; 2 Sam 5:1); woman/man a sound-play under different roots; וְדָבַק "cling, cleave, keep close"; MT has no "the two".
  • UncertainThe narrator or the man speaks 2:24; no lean.
  • SaysMatt 19:4–5 has Jesus say the Creator said 2:24, joined with 1:27 (also Mark 10:6–8); Eph 5:31–32 applies it to Christ and the church.

Citations

  • OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 2:21–24 (WLC/OSHB; morph HR/Ncbpc/Sp3ms, HC/Vqw3ms, HVNi3ms, HC/Vqq3ms, HC/Vqq3cp)
  • OSHB CC BY 4.0 Exod 26:20; 1 Kgs 6:5; Gen 29:14; 2 Sam 5:1 (WLC/OSHB)
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H8639, p. 922, entry t.bb.ab; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n945
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H6763, p. 854, entry r.cf.ab; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n877
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H1129, p. 124, entry b.cb.aa; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n147
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H802, p. 61, entry a.eq.ab; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n84
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H376, p. 35, entry a.da.ab; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n58
  • BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. H1692, p. 179, entry d.ah.aa; BDB 1906 page image, archive.org hebrewenglishlex00browuoft, leaf n202
  • BSB public domain Gen 2:21, 24
  • SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Matt 19:4–5; Mark 10:6–8; Eph 5:31–32
Sources OSHB CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain BDB CC BY 4.0 SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

2026-11-10

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