King James Version

What Does Genesis 2:21 Mean?

“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;”

Context

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Adam: or, the man

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. gave: Heb. called

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;

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. made: Heb. builded

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. Woman: Heb. Isha Man: Heb. Ish

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(21) **And the Lord God caused a deep sleep **(comp. Job 4:13, where it is the same word) to fall upon Adam.—Heb., the man. **One of his ribs.**—The word is never translated *rib *except in this place, but always *side, flank. *This is the true meaning also of the Latin word by which it is rendered in the Vulgate, *costa, *as shown in the French *côte, *and our *coast *Both the Greek and Syriac also translate by words which primarily signify the *side, *but derivatively the *rib. *Woman was not formed out of one of man’s many ribs, of which he would not feel the loss. She is one side of man; and though he may have several sides to his nature and character, yet without woman one integral portion of him is wanting. **Closed up the flesh instead thereof.**—Literally, *closed up flesh under it, *that is, in its place. This does not mean that man now has flesh where before he had this *side, *but that a cavity was prevented by drawing the flesh on the two edges close together. Metaphysically it means that man has no compensation for what was abstracted from him, except in the woman, who is the one side of his nature which he has lost.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 2:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.