Genesis 3:20

Genesis 3:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
• New International Version (NIV)Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Context of Genesis 3:20

18Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living. 21And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. 22Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

Genesis 3:20 word by word

וַיִּקְרָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם שֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ חַוָּ֑ה כִּ֛י הִ֥וא הָֽיְתָ֖ה אֵ֥ם כָּל־חָֽי׃Read the interlinear

• And Adamאָדָם'âdâm · the man (Adam)H120
• namedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• namedשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• his wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• Eveחַוָּהchavvâh · EveH2332
• becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
• sheהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• would beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• the motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• of allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• the livingחַיchay · aliveH2416

Cross-references for Genesis 3:20

• Genesis 2:20The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
• Genesis 5:29And he named him Noah, saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.”
• Genesis 16:11The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.
• Genesis 29:32And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
• Genesis 35:18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
• Exodus 2:10When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”
• 1 Samuel 1:20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
• Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
• Acts 17:26From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

Commentaries on Genesis 3:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living - A man who does not understand the original cannot possibly comprehend the reason of what is said here. What has the word Eve to do with being the mother of all living? Our translators often follow the Septuagint; it is a pity they had not done so here, as the Septuagint translation is literal and correct: , ̔ · "And Adam called his wife's name Life, because she was the mother…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8-21Verses 8-21 - XVI. The Judgment 15. שׁוּף shûp “bruise, wound.” ͂ (= ͂ ?) tērein ̓́ ektribein Job 9:17, ͂ katapatein Psalm 139:11, ́ suntribein Romans 16:20. 16. תשׁוּקה teshûqâh “desire, inclination.” ́ apostrofee ̓́ epistrophē Genesis 3:8-13; the sentence pronounced upon each, Genesis 3:14-19; and certain particulars following thereupon, Genesis 3:20-21. Genesis 3:8-9 The voice, we conceive, is the thunder of the approach of God and his call to Adam…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-21Verses 20-21 God named the man, and called him Adam, which signifies red earth; Adam named the woman, and called her Eve, that is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve of the living soul. Adam probably had regard to the blessing of a Redeemer, the promised Seed, in calling his wife Eve, or life; for He should be the life of all believers, and in Him all the families of the earth should be blessed. See also God's care for our first parents…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The name Eve (Hebrew khawah) sounds like the word khayah, which means "to give life." After God announced Adam's future death (3:19), Adam showed hope by naming Eve with a name related to life. Adam named Eve soon after 3:16. Some understand this to show that Adam’s act of naming the woman reflects his role and responsibility in the relationship after they sinned (see study note on 2:19–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Adam called his wife's name Eve--probably in reference to her being a mother of the promised Saviour, as well as of all mankind.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 3:20

• Adam
• Eve
• God
• Race
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Adam
• Eve
• Above
• Beguile
• Bread
• Clothe
• Coat
• Conception
• Dust
• Enmity

Commentaries on Genesis 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings