As I study the Bible, I realize how I haven’t even began to scratch the surface!
Today, I stumbled upon an interesting piece of info. (ESV)Gen 2: 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh 22 and the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
It’s the rib. Right? Simple. Not so fast. I love doing this and I encourage you, when reading the Bible, to always consider the context in which it was written. A famous saying goes; ‘it was written for us but not to us’. First, Genesis was written to the Hebrews in Hebrew language and some gems may be unlocked once you understand this. I’ve looked into 12 translations so far and they all read ‘RIB‘ but I understand there are few that read ‘SIDE/COMPARTMENT‘ so if you know one, please alert us.
Let’s get into it: The Hebrew word used here is ṣê-lā‘. This term has been used multiple times in the Bible and no one time (except this) has it been translated as ‘rib’; it has been always been translated as ‘side’. It’s used as an architectural word and has never been anatomical. The same verse 22 actually starts by saying God made/built. So why did the translators use ‘rib’? From what I’ve gathered so far, it started to be ‘rib’ during the Rabbinic literature and early church times. Also, there are cognate words in other Semitic languages like in Assyrian, tselu, and in Akkadin, ṣēlu, mean ‘rib’ so that may have contributed.
Anyway, what’s the implication when we read it as ‘side’?
The statement would mean that God split man into two sides and used one to create the woman who would be “the bone on my bones and flesh of my flesh.” and therefore the two shall become one flesh (vs 23). The question that supports the ‘side’ argument here is, “if it was a rib, then why say “flesh of flesh?” Looking at it now, the reasons supporting the ‘side’ argument convinces me though it doesn’t make a big difference. Men and women are halves and so they spend their whole lives trying to unite into one beautiful whole. Some people think that women coming from a man’s rib makes them lesser but I don’t get why. Maybe this will make more sense to them? Whatever the case, both are made in the image of God so does it really matter?
What do you think: is it rib or side, and why?
Note: My intention is not to correct the Bible translators but to challenge you that as you read, to consider the intention of the writers and to whom the words were written. Happy reading!