S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The story of "Adam's rib" is found in Genesis. Genesis 2:18-24 tells the well-known account of how God created the first woman, Eve, by removing a "rib" from Adam's body and fashioning it into the ...

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July 01 2013 • 14 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jae Park Supporter

The following is my limited understanding of God's creation of Eve. 
According to the Jewish tradition, God made Eve from Adam's rib 
a) Not out of man’s foot to be trampled upon by him, 
b) Not out of his head to rule over him, 
c) But out of his rib [side], so that he might protect and love her 
 [from under his arm to be protected]
 [next to the heart to be loved] closeness, intimacy

November 27 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bryan Naidoo Supporter founder and senior pastor of The Upper-Room Church

I think we need to look at the bigger picture of Gods plan and purpose. God said "be fruitful and multiply"...to experience fruitfulness there has to be a cleaving process. Unless it was bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, how are they going to cleave together to become one flesh?

As coming from one flesh, you appreciate one another because they come from one flesh. There is no competition because they come from one flesh. No one is superior because they come from one flesh. One hand is not better than the other.

Out of the first Adam he created Eve, out of the Last Adam he created the church. Out of the rib Eve, his bride was formed, out of his broken body and shed blood, the church, his bride was formed.

June 28 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ocie Taylor Supporter

I LOVE this verse from the bible because of what it signifies when you really think about it.

You can touch any part of your body but nothing feels as intimate or as close to you than when you touch your side.

Go ahead and try it. Touch your arm, your leg, your stomach, your shoulder and then touch your ribs and notice the different sensation you get when you do.

I think God using the rib signifies the closeness and intimacy that is to be shared between male and female in Godly union and relationship. Take your hand, place it on your rib and then lower your arm on top of it and feel the closeness.

The rib (or your side) is a place of intimacy, closeness, and even protection. The rib also, "protects" your most vital organs (heart and lungs) and in a sense that's what a woman does; she protects her mate and he does the same.

God does everything for a reason and one of the reasons I think he chose the rib is to signify the close and intimate bond that man and woman are to share when they are in a Godly union.

She is bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. She is to be loved, cherished, respected, honored, and protected. She is not to be misused, trampled on, neglected, or taken advantage of. She is a part of you (literally and spiritually).

Just my thoughts.

August 09 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

I believe God using Adam's rib to create the woman for Adam was to demonstrate interdependence, probably.

Adam was put to sleep and his side opened that he might have a wife (Genesis 2:21), but Jesus died on a cross and his blood shed that he might have wife, "a bride," i.e. the church (John 19:33-37: "But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken.' And again another Scripture says, 'They will look on him whom they have pierced.'”).

October 01 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why did God use Adam's rib to create Eve?

It was explained like this. Eve was made from Adam's rib because he needed a helpmate who would be a part of him. That would be close to him, under his arm, so that he can protect her. Close to his heart, and the two become one flesh.

Another illustration that was given to me was the following:

When we think of our ribs, we think of them surrounding the heart and protecting it from any damage that could occur in an accident.

Also, when we think of our heart, it is the seat of motivation:
And, as the ribs protect our heart, so should we love and protect our wives. Eph 5: 25 ESV: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;" and verse 28 ESV: "Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: 29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church."

Also, God's use of one of Adam's ribs to make Eve is a reminder that woman was created to be "beside" man, and together, the man and woman complement one another in marriage.

Taken from "the side" (often interpreted from the Hebrew word tsela), the rib symbolizes that woman was not made from the head to dominate man, nor from the feet to be trampled, but from his side to be equal.

Interestingly, modern medical science has found that the rib has an unusual capacity to heal. Unlike other bones, it can regenerate if its connective tissue membrane is left intact.

According to Genesis 2, Eve was created from Adam's rib (or "side") tosymbolisee that she was of the same substance, representing equality, companionship, and a "one flesh" union. This method distinguishes her creation from the animals, highlighting her role as a suitable human counterpart rather than a subordinate or separate creation.

19 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report