Genesis 2:18-25
2:18
Something
is “not good” – man has no companion that matches him.
-
the skies
without the lights and birds are incomplete
-
the seas without
the fish are incomplete
-
the land is
incomplete without man and the animals
-
the man is
incomplete without the woman
“Not
good” is emphasized in the Hebrew sentence.
God
observes and decides man is incomplete.
Adam does not tell him nor is Adam asked.
Literally:
“I will make him for him a helper as in front of him.”
“as
in front of him” is Hebrew “kenegdo” and indicates that what God creates for
Adam will correspond to him in that the woman will not be inferior to Adam nor
superior to him.
This
helper will be “him for him a helper as in front of him”
“helper”
is Hebrew “ ‘ezer”. Means “aid” and “support” She is indispensable partner. Woman is
not a choice, a convenience or a servant for man.
1
Corinthians 11:9 woman is made for man.
Man can not achieve what God intended without woman. Woman’s purpose exists only with man.
This
word “ ‘ezer” is used frequently to describe YHWH’s relationship in covenant to
-
Exodus 18:4
-
Deut. 33:7
-
Psalm 33:20
“
‘ezer” refers to help from a stronger one who does not need help”
In
Isaiah 30:5 the “ ‘ezer” is called on because of superior military strength
In
Psalm 121:1 the “ ‘ezer “ has superior size.
2:19
To
give a name is a sign of authority or sovereignty.
Woman
does not come from the animals which are dominated by man
2:20
God
is the creator not the namer
“No
suitable helper” means:
1) No ‘ezer
2) No Covenant partner
2:21
Ancient
religions and cultures do not have a separate account of the creation of the
female.
Scriptures
place woman in an equal and exalted place.
This
is unique but was not always followed by
Gen.
1:27 indicates God creating both the male and the female
Here
in 2:21 we find how God made the female.
Man
was taken from the earth. Woman from the
man.
“Side”
or “rib” is the Hebrew word “sela”.
“Sela”
is used for the side of the ark of the covenant ( Ex. 25:12), the side of a building (Ex. 26:20), a ridge or terrace on
a hill (2 Sam. 16:13)
1
Kings 7:3 “sela” is a beam or part of the frame work in the temple.
“Deep
Sleep” is “tardema” in the Hebrew. It is
the same as Abram in Gen. 15:12.
It
is a trance like state where he can observe, he can hear but can not
participate.
2:22
“Make” is “bana” which literally means “build”. This verb’s definition implies beauty,
stability and durability.
2:23
First
recorded speech of humans
“bone
of my bones and flesh of my flesh” is not Adam stating where woman came from
but speaks of a covenant relationship between the two. It is a statement of common, reciprocal
loyalty.
When
the tribes of
This
statement is Adam swearing allegiance to the woman in a marriage covenant.
Woman
is called “issa” (“issha”) and man is the word “is” (“ish”)
Jesus
uses these verse as the basis for the teaching on marriage.
Woman
comes from man which secures her equality.
2:24
“forsake”
describes
Man
is to “forsake” his covenant with his family and go to his wife.
“cling”
is the maintenance of this new covenant. “Deut. 4:4; 10:20
Marriage
is a covenant and not a temporary living arrangement.
2:25
“naked”
speaks of the whole being not just physical
Naked
describes:
-
poor (Job 24:7;
Ez. 18:16)
-
a sign of shame
or guilt (Gen. 3:7; Ex. 16:22, 37)
-
a reference for
birth (Job 1:21; Eccl. 5:15)
Nakedness
through out scripture is most frequently a symbol of guilt.
1
Cor. 11:2-16
1
Tm. 2:8-15
1
Cor. 6:16
Eph.
5:31
Principles
of Marriage from Genesis 2
1) Instituted by God
2) Purpose is fulfillment and companionship
3) Partnership has both headship (man) and helpship
(woman)
4) Permanence – one flesh until death separates them
5) Man and Woman
a. Not man and animal or man and man
b. Homosexuality was never the basis upon which the
great societies or the great empires were built. Through out time the basis of all great
civilizations has been marriage and family.
Homosexuality may have appeared and become common in great civilizations
but only during the decline of a society.
Homosexuality has never been the foundation of a culture nor has it ever
stepped in and saved a culture once it began to decline.