New English Translation
Genesis 3:20
20The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.
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
18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field. 19By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.” The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21The Lord God made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22And the Lord God said, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
Read all of Genesis 3Genesis 3:20 word by word
וַיִּקְרָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם שֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ חַוָּ֑ה כִּ֛י הִ֥וא הָֽיְתָ֖ה אֵ֥ם כָּל־חָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 3:20
- Genesis 2:20So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found.
- Genesis 5:29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the Lord has cursed.”
- Genesis 16:11Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your painful groans.
- Genesis 29:32So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.”
- Genesis 35:18With her dying breath, she named him Ben-Oni. But his father called him Benjamin instead.
- Exodus 2:10When the child grew older she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “Because I drew him from the water.”
- 1 Samuel 1:20After some time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, thinking, “I asked the Lord for him.
- Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
- Acts 17:26From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,
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
In the dictionaries
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
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