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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.” Genesis 2:23 NASB
Man – Something odd is happening in this story about the first man. Up to this point, the word used for “man” is adam. God formed the adam from the dust of the ground. God breathed life into the adam. The adam was placed in the Garden. The adam walked and talked with God in Eden. God gave the adam the first commandment. God recognized that it was not good for the adam to be alone. But when the adam woke from God’s formation of woman, he (the adam) said, “This is now bone of my bones . . . she shall be called ishshah because she was taken out of ish.” What?! How did the word ish get in there? Everything up to this point is about adam, not ish. The first occurrence of ish is in the mouth of the adam. Why? And even more puzzling, when we come to the principle verse about marriage, the very next verse, the word used is ish, not adam (“an ish shall leave his father and mother and cling to his ishshah”) but the next verse switches back to adam (“and they were both naked, the adam and his ishshah”).
We might suppose that adam is used to describe man in relation to God and ish is used to describe man in relation to other human beings and the world, but the linguistic evidence doesn’t bear this out (e.g., Genesis 4:1 uses adam, not ish. Likewise, Genesis 3 uses adam). But there must be a reason why the word ish, used 2174 times in the Tanakh versus adam, used 562 times, is introduced in this verse. If we look at usage outside of the Genesis story, we find that adam is almost always a collective noun; a word for Mankind. Of course, in the Genesis account it is the name of a particular being, but this isn’t its usual application. In the Genesis account, adam includes several key elements: uniqueness in creation, dependence on God, accountability, and recipient of revelation. But ish also carries essential elements of what it means to be human. Ish is about connection. It is predominately a word about identity in relationship. In other words, in Hebrew thought I am not human simply because God formed me as adam. I myself recognize that an essential part of who I am is the connection created by being ish. In Hebrew thought there are no human islands. We are all part of the same land.
Perhaps we cannot solve the riddle of ish other than to note that it is introduced deliberately to form a connection with ishshah, a connection, by the way, that has no etymological basis. Ishshah is not a linguistic derivative of ish. It is simply a word play. But that doesn’t make it any less crucial. The adam realizes that he needs the ishshah, and when he expresses this need, he calls himself by a word that connects him to her. Think about that for just a moment. He could have said, “She shall be called ishshah because she came from ha-adam” and he would have been correct. But he doesn’t say that. Instead, he alters the description of himself to fit her existence. He changes who he is because of her. Adam becomes ish because there is an ‘ezer kenegdo who is ishshah. Men, do you see what this means? Have you changed who you are because of her? Isn’t that what the next verse, the verse about marriage, is all about. We men are to be transformed into unity with our wives because they are our wives, because of who they are not what they do. We change in order to become one with them. Right?
Topical Index: adam, ish, ishshah, Genesis 2:23, man, woman
Skip,
You wrote “The adam realizes that he needs the ishshah, and when he expresses this need, he calls himself by a word that connects him to her. Think about that for just a moment. He could have said, “She shall be called ishshah because she came from ha-adam” and he would have been correct. But he doesn’t say that. Instead, he alters the description of himself to fit her existence. He changes who he is because of her. Adam becomes ish because there is an ‘ezer kenegdo who is ishshah.”
Very powerful and convicting! Thank you for this timely word.
the man calls his new help-mate “woman” (Heb. ishshah), “for this one was taken from a man” (Heb. ish).
Adam named his wife Eve (Heb. hawwah) “because she was the mother of all living” and Adam receives his name “the man”, changing from “eth-ha’adham”, before the fall to “ha’Adham” (with article/command), to Adam after the fall (disobedience).
From man to woman (man’s woe 🙂
Thank you Skip. Is it possibly also about something much deeper still? As you explained previously after forming ADAM, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and ADAM became a living being. Living being, being female gender; the next day was Sabbath, the day of the wedding feast. Does it not all point towards Christ and His bride as hinted at by Paul in Ephesians 5?
Good point Skip! You’re getting close! Think about what you wrote. That question you left hanging.(why do men wear neckties? boggles my mind.) In “the hood” they don’t say “shit” anymore (oops! forgive me!!!). They say ISH. So, what would an ISHSHA have to do????
i sure have missed you all. been busy tho. gotta make some prayer ponchos.
Have a squeaky clean day!!
me.
What is a prayer poncho?
Hi Kate! Been missing ya! News recently had women being harrassed at the Wailing Wall because they had on men’s prayer shawls. Seems women can’t wear them so i figured, why not make prayer ponchos? who’s gonna mess with that? After reading the Torah Portion this a.m., i know exactly what color they should be.
Please feel free to use and share the idea. it came from a very trusted Source. Thank YOU Holy Spirit!
p.s. Priscilla of Priscilla and Aquila fame, wrote the Book of Hebrews. You can plain read it and tell. I did study it out though. 99.9% sure. Confirmed. Gotta break it down to them like you would a 4 year old.
Shabbat Shalom!
~ For as in (the first) Adam all die, so also in Christ (the second Adam) all will be made alive ~
(1 Corinthians 15.22)
~Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, MUCH MORE did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (from Romans chapter 5)
~ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening, life-giving Spirit ~ (1 Corinthians 15.45)
~ The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual ~ (1 Corinthians 15:46)
~ How much more therefore, will the blood of The Messiah, who by The Eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works that we may serve THE LIVING GOD? ~
(Hebrews 9.14)
~ For as in (the first) Adam all die, so also in Christ (the second Adam) all will be made alive ~
(1 Corinthians 15.22)
~ Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation ~ (2 Corinthians 5.17)
That “new creation” is the bride of our Heavenly Boaz,- the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ!
~ And they said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are they who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And one said to me, “These are the true words of God.” ~ (Revelation 19.9)
~ Whosoever will, let him take the free gift of the water of life ~ (Revelation 22:17)
“Whosoever heareth,” shout, shout the sound!
Spread the blessed tidings all the world around;
Spread the joyful news wherever man is found;
~Whosoever will may come ~
“Whosoever will, whosoever will,”
Send the proclamation over vale and hill;
’Tis a loving Father, calls the wanderer home:
~ Whosoever will, may come ~
Whosoever cometh need not delay,
Now the Door is open, enter while you may;
Jesus is the true, the only Living Way;
~ Whosoever will may come ~
“Whosoever will,” the promise secure,
“Whosoever will,” forever must endure;
“Whosoever will,” ’tis life forevermore:
“Whosoever will may come.”
~ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely ~ (Revelation 22.17)
~ Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! ~ (Isaiah 55.1)
~ Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I AM meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. ~
(Matthew 11.28)
~ I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint ~ (Jeremiah 31:25)
~ I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly ~ (John 10.10)
~ yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life ~ (John 5.40)
Once again Skip, your understanding has brought great clarity to my life. Nothing to add, except thank you!
Shalom friend.
Good morning to you all. I found this Today Word very interesting but what impressed me more was your explanation of the meaning and use of the word adam outside the Genesis account it gave, as so I think, a possible way to answer a question that has been in my mind for a long time and was asked by a little boy; the question is; how only two human beings, adam and Eve and their offspring could procreate so many people? and with your explanation I think to understand that even though the story is about one person He created animals, stars, etc. Am I right of it is me grasping for an answer to my question? Blessings and thanks.
Benny
Skip, I have a question about your statement, “Perhaps we cannot solve the riddle of ish other than to note that it is introduced deliberately to form a connection with ishshah, a connection, by the way, that has no etymological basis.” In a online discussion, someone mentioned, “anash…actually serves as the root for both the masculine and feminine” — so I’m presuming he is saying that the two words DO share an etymological basis. Can you give me more guidance on this, esp. the basis for your statement — that is, do they share a common root, or not? And if not, what is the root of “ish”?
Valid question, but I am far from the resources needed to answer it. Can you wait until I am back in my office on September 25?
Absolutely. Thanks so much for the quick reply. I’m looking forward to hearing about it.
Interesting that this came up this afternoon. I spoke to a man today who changed his last name to his wife’s when they married.
I (obviously) gave him your site address.
How interesting, Wade. And Good Job, if I may say so! Shalom!
There is definitely something different about Gen 2:23…Have a look at the “Literal Translation”…totally different wording…
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=YLT
Young’s Literal chooses an option for Hebrew that is not typical. Here’s the remark in TWOT:
(paʿam). Foot, step, anvil, time. This noun occurs one hundred-seventeen times in the OT, usually meaning “time, occurrence.” When paʿam means “foot” it may refer to;(1) the foot of man (Ps 58:10 [H 11]); (2) (foot)step(s) (Ps 17:5; 85:13 [H 14]); (3) supports or a pedestal for a building (Ex 25:12). The meaning “anvil” is found once, in Isa 41:7.
There are numerous expressions for “time” in which paʿam is one of the elements. For example, “This is ‘at last’ (happaʿam) bone of my bones” (Gen 2:23). “And I will speak ‘but this once’ ” (ʾak-happaʿam) (Gen 18:32). “ ‘Now this time’ (ʿattâ happaʿam) will my husband be joined to me” (Gen 29:34). “ ‘Many times’ (pĕʿāmîm rabbôt) he delivered them” (Ps 106:43).
Hebrew paʿam is a blend of Ugaritic pʾm “time” and pʿn (Phoenician pʿm) “foot” (Gordon, UT 19: nos. 1998, 2076).
Hamilton, V. P. (1999). 1793 פָּעַם. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (730). Chicago: Moody Press.