God’s Word Translation
Genesis 2:23
23The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She will be named woman because she was taken from man.”
Genesis 2:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Adam 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.
- New International Version (NIV)The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Adam 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.”
Context of Genesis 2:23
21So the Lord God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22Then the Lord God formed a woman from the rib that he had taken from the man. He brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She will be named woman because she was taken from man.” 24That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25The man and his wife were both naked, but they weren’t ashamed of it.
Read all of Genesis 2Genesis 2:23 word by word
וַיֹּאמֶר֮ הָֽאָדָם֒ זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י וּבָשָׂ֖ר מִבְּשָׂרִ֑י לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ לֻֽקֳחָה־זֹּֽאת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Adamאָדָם'âdâm · the man (Adam)H120
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Thisזֹאתzô'th · thisH2063
- nowפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
- boneעֶ֫צֶם‛etsem · boneH6106
- and fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- shall be calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
- Womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- was takenלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- out of Manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
Cross-references for Genesis 2:23
- Genesis 29:14Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed with him for a whole month.
- Judges 9:2He said, “Please ask all citizens of Shechem, ‘What seems best to you? Do you really want all of Jerubbaal’s 70 sons to rule you or just one man? Remember, I’m your own flesh and blood.’ ”
- 2 Samuel 5:1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said.
- 2 Samuel 19:13And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God strike me dead unless you are given Joab’s place to serve me always as the commander of the army.’ ”
- Ephesians 5:30We are parts of his body.
- Genesis 2:24That is why a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 11:8Clearly, man wasn’t made from woman but woman from man.
Commentaries on Genesis 2:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, etc. - There is a very delicate and expressive meaning in the original which does not appear in our version. When the different genera of creatures were brought to Adam, that he might assign them their proper names, it is probable that they passed in pairs before him, and as they passed received their names. To this circumstance the words in this place seem to refer. Instead of this now is הפאם זאת zoth happaam, we…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Whether the primeval man was conscious of the change in himself, and of the work of the Supreme Being while it was going on, or received supernatural information of the event when he awoke, does not appear. But he is perfectly aware of the nature of her who now for the first time appears before his eyes. This is evinced in his speech on beholding her: “This, now” - in contrast with the whole animal creation just before presented to his view, in which he…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Power over the creatures was given to man, and as a proof of this he named them all. It also shows his insight into the works of God. But though he was lord of the creatures, yet nothing in this world was a help meet for man. From God are all our helpers. If we rest in God, he will work all for good. God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam; while he knows no sin, God will take care that he shall feel no pain. God, as her Father, brought the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23Adam recognized the woman as his "suitable helper" (2:20). He celebrated their unity through poetry and song, focusing on their connection, not their differences (compare 29:14). "she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken": Adam understood their connection (see Ephesians 5:28–29). Earlier, Adam looked at the animals but did not find a suitable partner. This evaluation is very different!Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Woman--in Hebrew, "man-ess."Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 2:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 2
- 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
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