Genesis 2:23 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Genesis 2:23

Comments

Why did God create the woman in this way? Adam was brought out of the ground and God breathed into him a living soul. Eve was brought out of Adam. What is the meaning of this? Well, Adam got it straight away and he reflects in the most intelligent possible way: ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ He understood that she was the same as he was; she was identical; she was like him; she was bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh. ‘She is the same as me. And she is out of me. She is not a facsimile exactly. She's a counterpart, a complement. But she is another me to help me and to be with me.’ Of course he did not have to look after her – no looking after was necessary in the Garden of Eden: it was just blessing and blessedness. However, he might well have said, ‘I have got to look after her as though she is my very own arms, legs, ribs and body parts. She is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. We are together and equal and one flesh before the Lord’, ‘because she was taken out of Man.’ In receiving her, he was receiving back part of himself, and in a sense was made complete again by her. He received back part of himself, but what he received back from the Lord was marvellously greater than what had been taken from him, so that he was added to. He received back the companion that God had already taught him that he needed.God had an even greater mystery in mind when he designed marriage in this way, for, even before the fall, here was this picture of Christ and the church and the close unity that exists between them.

Application

This could be a motto for all married people who are Christians. This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. If that were buried in our minds and hearts, then we would have all the mutual love and compassion and understanding and supportiveness that we need for married life. One is not superior to the other. In the sight of God, we are equal: equally valuable, equally gifted. We are given roles and one in marriage is the head of the home, and the wife is totally supportive. But nevertheless, there's a mutuality and a togetherness and an absolute loyalty. So we see there are some laws and commandments, even in the first two chapters of Genesis before the fall. Man was made perfect and ready to obey them all, before the fatal and dreadful moment of temptation came.

Questions

Adam had one less rib all his life, but of course his children all had a full set of ribs, as this operation did not alter his genetics.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Genesis 2:23 Commentary and Bible Study