Genesis 2:21 kjv

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

Genesis 2:21 nkjv

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.

Genesis 2:21 niv

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.

Genesis 2:21 esv

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.

Genesis 2:21 nlt

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the opening.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 21 Meaning

Genesis 2:21 describes God's direct, miraculous action to create the woman, Eve. After observing that man needed a suitable companion, God caused a supernatural deep sleep to fall upon Adam. While Adam was in this divinely induced slumber, God took one of Adam's ribs, closing the flesh afterward. This verse sets the stage for the creation of woman as a distinct yet complementary being, crafted intimately from man, establishing the foundational principle for human partnership and the sacred institution of marriage. It underscores God's wisdom, design, and provision for humanity's needs, particularly for companionship and procreation.

Genesis 2 21 Context

Genesis chapter 2 details the creation of humanity in a more focused and intimate manner following the broader scope of Genesis 1. Verses 4-7 describe the formation of Adam from the dust. Verses 8-17 illustrate God planting the Garden of Eden, placing man within it, and giving him instructions and warnings regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Crucially, verses 18-20 establish the problem statement for God's action in verse 21: God declares "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Gen 2:18), and Adam, having named all the animals, confirms this lack by finding "no helper fit for him" (Gen 2:20). Thus, Genesis 2:21 is God's direct and purposeful response to the established need for a suitable human companion for Adam. This act underscores God's intentional design for human relationships and prepares the ground for the institution of marriage. The chapter provides the historical and theological foundation for human dignity, gender roles, and the sacredness of marriage, highlighting God as the benevolent provider for human needs.

Genesis 2 21 Word analysis

• So (וַיַּפֵּל - vayyapel): "And He caused to fall." The Hebrew 'וַי' (vav-conversive with imperfect) indicates sequential action, emphasizing that this divine act directly followed the recognition of Adam's loneliness and the failed search for a helper. It highlights divine initiative and immediate response.
• the Lord God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים - YHWH Elohim): "YHWH" is the personal covenant name of God, indicating His faithful and relational nature. "Elohim" is the general Hebrew word for God, denoting His power and majesty as the creator. The combination emphasizes God as both transcendent Creator and immanent covenant-keeping God, meticulously involved in the details of His creation, particularly humanity.
• caused a deep sleep (תַּרְדֵּמָה - tardemah): Not a natural slumber, but a supernaturally induced state of unconsciousness, deep and complete, from which one cannot wake oneself. This tardemah (also seen in Gen 15:12 for Abraham) signifies that God required man's passivity for this specific creative act. It ensured that Adam could not interfere, was unaware of the process, and would accept the result as entirely God's work.
• to fall upon the man (עַל־הָאָדָם - al-ha'adam): "Upon Adam" or "upon the humanity." Ha'adam (with the definite article) initially refers to 'the man' but can also carry a sense of 'humanity'. The action emphasizes direct divine intervention and control over Adam's being.
• and while he slept (וַיִּישַׁן - vayyishan): "And he slept." This simply confirms Adam's state during the divine operation. It's a statement of fact following the deep sleep.
• He took (וַיִּקַּח - vayyiqach): Another instance of divine action, signifying intentionality and precision. God, as the skilled surgeon and creator, takes a specific part for a specific purpose.
• one of his ribs (אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו - achat mitsal’otav): Achat means "one." Tsela' (singular form) most commonly means "side" or "panel" (as in the side of the tabernacle or an ark), but in the context of a living being and the subsequent creation of Eve, "rib" is the common and most fitting translation. Taking one highlights Eve's distinctness from Adam while also underscoring their shared essence and origin—not a part too dominant (like the head) nor too subservient (like the foot), but from the side, signifying partnership and equality, "bone of his bone."
• and closed up (וַיִּסְגֹּר - vayyisgor): "And he closed." Implies an act of careful repair and healing, demonstrating God's meticulous care, not leaving a wound. This suggests divine surgery, painless and perfect.
• the flesh (בָּשָׂר - basar): The "meat," "flesh," or "body." This refers to the human tissue where the rib was taken, which God immediately healed or restored.
• instead (תַּחְתֶּנָּה - tachtennah): "In its place" or "instead of it." This suggests that where the rib was taken, flesh was put in its place, implying a complete and perfect healing. There was no lasting deficit in Adam, only transformation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man: This phrase highlights God's initiative, absolute control, and purposeful action. The supernatural tardemah emphasizes that Eve's creation was solely God's doing, removing human agency from the process and guaranteeing its divine purity and authority. It also suggests the sanctity of what God was about to do – an operation too sacred for man to observe.
• and while he slept, He took one of his ribs: This underscores the method of creation: an extraction, not a fresh formation from dust, symbolizing a profound, inherent connection between man and woman. The "rib" imagery has significant theological implications, representing that woman is man's equal and complementary partner, from his side to stand beside him, not before him (to rule him) nor behind him (to be subservient to him).
• and closed up the flesh instead: This action demonstrates God's perfection as a creator and healer. There's no blemish or damage left on Adam, implying a painless, flawless divine "operation." This perfection is crucial as it emphasizes God's good and complete design.

Genesis 2 21 Bonus section

• The creation of Eve from Adam's rib has been interpreted by some scholars as signifying the woman's role as a life-giving partner, distinct from the man who was formed directly from the dust. She represents the "help" that completes humanity, enabling propagation and deep companionship.
• The phrase "deep sleep" (tardemah) used here is also employed when a divine encounter or prophetic experience renders an individual temporarily unconscious or passive, emphasizing the extraordinary, divine nature of what transpires. It ensures the purity of the divine work without human interference or claim.
• The concept of God acting as a divine "surgeon" or "architect" is a rich theological image derived from this passage. It suggests precise, intentional, and highly skilled artistry in His creative endeavors. This challenges any view of creation as accidental or chaotic.
• The absence of pain for Adam during this procedure, followed by the immediate closure of the wound, foreshadows God's restorative power and hints at His perfect plan before the fall, where suffering was not part of His original design for humanity.
• This specific method of creation emphasizes woman's co-humanity and spiritual parity with man, yet distinguishes their origins to highlight their unique yet complementary purposes within God's broader design for mankind. It subtly challenges notions of female inferiority often present in ancient societies by portraying Eve as a deliberate, essential, and wonderfully made culmination of God's initial creation work.

Genesis 2 21 Commentary

Genesis 2:21 is a pivotal moment in the creation narrative, showcasing God's proactive and precise intervention to address Adam's isolation. Far from an afterthought, the creation of Eve through this "divine surgery" is God's perfect solution to the declaration, "It is not good for the man to be alone." The tardemah or deep sleep signifies a state of profound divine initiation where human will is entirely passive, emphasizing that the woman is God's unique and specific gift to man, entirely of His design and power. Taking the rib—not the dust, like Adam—highlights a shared essence and profound connection; woman is not a separate species, but "bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh," thereby establishing a basis for equality and intimacy. This passage not only narrates Eve's miraculous origin but also profoundly informs the theological basis for human companionship, the institution of marriage, and the complementary nature of men and women, designed by God for partnership, mutual aid, and reflecting His relational image. This passage asserts the sacred and unique bond within marriage, contrasting with other ancient narratives that might depict human relationships or creation in less divine and orderly ways.

Practical usage examples:

1. Companionship is God-ordained: This verse reminds us that healthy human relationships, particularly marital ones, are not mere social constructs but divinely designed for our good, stemming from God's perfect observation of human need.
2. God's timing and provision: Just as God acted decisively when Adam recognized his solitude, this illustrates that God knows and meets our deepest needs, often in surprising or seemingly passive moments for us (the "deep sleep").
3. God as the Great Physician: The healing act of closing the flesh speaks to God's care and perfection even in what might seem like "surgery." He doesn't leave His creation incomplete or wounded; He always perfects His work.