Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Genesis 2:21

"So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh."  Genesis 2:21

"Deep sleep" can also be translated as "trance" or "lethargy" in the Qbible.  And literally it says God took "one from out of his side."  This could just be a single rib, or it could be more than that.  It could include bone, muscle, tissue, fat, and whatever else people have in their sides.

The end phrase, "and closed up the place with flesh," is in the Qbible literally translated to "and shut the flesh below."  "Below" can mean "instead of" so that could be God put flesh in the place of piece of side he took out.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Genesis 2:20

"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field."

"But for Adam no suitable helper was found."  Genesis 2:20

Before woman was created, God brought every living creature to man, except the fish, it appears.  And from all those animals, not even the dog was a suitable helper for the man, but even so man did his job and named all the creatures.

The QBible also translates "names" as "character" so the names man gave the animals also defined their character. 

Here's another article that talks about the names, but it goes on to say "Adam was able to perceive the spiritual components of the creative spirit that brought every animal into being, and named each animal in conjunction with its spiritual configuration."  This article also implies that Hebrew was the original language.  It seems more likely to me that the original language was lost at the tower of Babel mentioned in Genesis 11.  However, the idea that Adam could perceive the spiritual components of the animals and name them according to that does seem to fit. 

It is curious that it doesn't mention the fish at all here.  Were fish not important enough to name?  Or was just knowing that as one broad category good enough?

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Genesis 2:19

"Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name."  Genesis 2:19

Here is man's first job, to name all the living creatures God created.  God even brought them to the man, so he didn't have to go search them out. 

The Qbible has translates the word "man" as "Adam" for the first time here, although, this is the same word used previously just translated as "man."  Adam means human being (either an individual or the species-mankind).  So by calling the first man "Adam," we're just calling him "man."

Friday, March 7, 2014

Genesis 2:18

"The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"  Genesis 2:18

In defining "a helper suitable" the Qbible uses the word "complement."  So the helper for man will be his complement.  This counterpart is more than just a helper, it's the perfect match for him.  The New Revised Standard translates this as "a helper as his partner."  And the International Standard as "I will make the woman to be an authority corresponding to him."
 
Here's a footnote from usccb.org that explains very well:  "lit., 'a helper in accord with him.' 'Helper' need not imply subordination, for God is called a helper (Dt 33:7; Ps 46:2). The language suggests a profound affinity between the man and the woman and a relationship that is supportive and nurturing."  This article points out that man recognized that she belonged to the same category as he did.  Man is incomplete without woman.  And this article states, "Man was made to manifest God's authority; woman was made to manifest man's authority. The woman is a vice regent if you will who rules in the place of man as it were or carries out man's will as man rules in the place of God and carries out God's will."

It's good to realize that "helper" doesn't mean that woman is inferior to man, that God created man and woman together as equals, so they wouldn't be alone.