Devine Scripture

Genesis 2:22

What does Genesis 2:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 2:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 2:22 means

From the rib taken from man, God "made he a woman," highlighting her origin directly from Adam, thus signifying their intrinsic unity and shared humanity. The Lord God then "brought her unto the man," presenting her as a divine gift. This act of God personally bringing the woman to Adam underscores the sacredness of their union and the divine origin of marriage. She was not found by accident or created independently, but purposefully presented as the perfect complementary partner for him, the climax of God's relational design.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the bone which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman, and took her to the man.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jehovah God buildeth up the rib which He hath taken out of the man into a woman, and bringeth her in unto the man;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jehovah Elohim built the rib that he had taken from Man into a woman; and brought her to Man.

Context

This verse continues immediately from God's surgical extraction of the rib in verse 21, detailing the completion of woman's creation and her divine presentation to Adam. It directly precedes Adam's joyful recognition of her, establishing the foundational scene for the institution of marriage and the understanding of male-female relationships as divinely ordained and unified.

v.21And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:

v.22This passage

v.23And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Proverbs 18:22

    Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

  • Proverbs 19:14

    House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

  • Psalms 127:1

    Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.

  • Genesis 2:19

    And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:8

    For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:

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