Mining for Gold
The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. Genesis 2:22 NASB
Brought – “bôʾ, the fourth most frequently occurring verb in the ot, is used 2570 times, for the most part with everyday meanings of “go, arrive, enter a house,” or, more idiomatically, “to die” (go to the fathers) or for sexual relations (come in to her).” [1] Martens goes on to describe four theologically significant uses of this verb. They are instructive when applied to this first occurrence of bo’.
- The verb is used to describe God coming to His people. It is essential to the formation of a covenant community. God invites, establishes, protects and provides for the community. All of these actions are tied to the Hebraic idea of salvation. But God also comes in judgment because judgment is the flip side of grace. God inaugurates a community that is to express His heart. When it does not, He comes to correct.
- Bo’ is also associated with promise and fulfillment. Bright suggests that every use of bo’ in relation to God implies bringing something to pass. Bo’ is a verb of completion. God says it. It’s done. The characteristic expression of the future (ha’ba) is also something coming as a fulfillment of promise.
- This verb is used in connection with the Messiah who will bring salvation. He will be the future king of Israel, triumphant in his rule.
- Bo’ is used to describe the man who comes to the place of worship in order to offer sacrifices and pray. This is not limited to the priests but is open for all “to come.” The only requirement is righteous behavior in the context of sacred ritual.
Let’s see if these four thematic uses of bo’ shed light on the occurrence in Genesis 2:22. When God brings the woman, He initiates a covenant community, the fundamental building block of Hebrew society. In the community of marriage, the actions of God toward Israel are experienced. Joy, grace, forgiveness, correction, protection and deliverance are components of the community of echad basar.
When God brings the woman, promise and fulfillment are realized. “I will make for him” becomes a living reality. The rest is a lifetime of learning to be one.
The Messiah, born of a woman, waits in the wings for the human drama to unfold. The future king of Israel resides in the union of the ones God fashioned. Until they unite, no Messiah can come to the earth.
Finally, if the purpose of marriage is echad basar, the one proclamation of unity established by God, then is this not a place of worship? When man and woman become the lifelong commitment God intended, does this not require worship? Does this not imply that the home is a place of God’s sacred presence?
Topical Index: brought, bo’, marriage, Genesis 2:22
[1] Martens, E. A. (1999). 212 בּוֹא. 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.) (93–94). Chicago: Moody Press.
The messages for both today and yesterday are timely for my household. Tomorrow my wife and I celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary. My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world. I was not looking for a wife when I found her, but God loves surprises. We are actually quite different one from the other, opposites in so many ways. But we have two things in common: we both have a strong land ethic, and most importantly, we both worship and follow the Messiah. Skip, you could not have known what a joy these columns have been to us, especially now, but thank you.
“I will make for him” becomes a living reality.”
Food for thought-How did Adam know that Chawah was ‘bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh’?
Did he feel he had a missing part when he awoke from YHWH having taken a ‘rib’ out of him?!
“For this reason man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Genesis 2:23-75).”
Not as in the worldview that the woman is to leave HER father and mother to cleave to her husband, who is the ‘head’ of the household!
And yet this is unheard of in Christianity that the MAN is to leave HIS father and mother to cleave to his wife, to be one with her. The contrary has always been taught, and practised in church weddings with the bride going to the groom. So, which is Scriptural?
Question-Who married Adam and Chawah?- “….. if the purpose of marriage is echad basar, the one proclamation of unity established by God…,” according to His purposes.
“When man and woman become the lifelong commitment God intended, does this not require worship? Does this not imply that the home is a place of God’s sacred presence?” Good question, Skip! My answer-YES! Definitely.