Eve

2002-11-16 04:29:00

I received a letter from Assaf correcting me on a translation point.

I translated Genesis 3:20 as follows:

"And Adam called his woman's name Eve; the mother of all living."

I left out the word "because" since it was not in the Hebrew of the source I was using. Assaf pointed out that the Hebrew KI is in the ancient manuscripts and is translated as "since," as," "for" and implies the word "because." I checked this out and he is correct, so I stand corrected.

If the Hebrew we have was not altered, it should read:

"And Adam called his woman's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living."

The Concordant version, which I consider to be the most accurate Bible, translates it as follows:

"And calling is the human his wife's name Eve, for she becomes the mother of all the living."

Before I made my post I noted that just about every translation uses "because" or a similar word so I should have suspected they had reason to place it there.

One can certainly see why the root from whence Eve comes from is associated with "living."

Even so, I stand by my original conclusion that the Hebrew CHAVAH, from which EVE is derived, is close in meaning to the modern word reveal. I realized when I wrote this that "reveal" is not the common translation for CHAVAH, but there is an important point we need to realize. Many of the true meanings for the ancient Bible Hebrew have been lost or altered. When you think of it though, it is indeed amazing that it has stayed as intact as it is. For instance, if we were transported just 400 years into old England we could barely understand English of that period.

In 4,000 years Hebrew has been altered less than English has been in 400.

Even so, the best way to find the meaning of some ancient words is to leave the scholars behind and see how they were actually used in Bible times.

CHAVAH, the root word for Eve was used six times in the Old Testament.

Note how well "reveal" or "revelation" fits in with the meaning of them all:

"I will shew (CHAVAH - reveal to) thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare; Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it: (Job 15:17-18)

"And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew (CHAVAH - reveal to) you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand Judgment."

"Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew (CHAVAH - reveal) mine opinion. Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. (Job 32:6-11)

"I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew (CHAVAH - reveal) mine opinion." (Job 32:17)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth (CHAVAH - reveals) knowledge." (Psalms 19:1-2)

It is therefore interesting evidence that every single use of the word CHAVAH in the Bible implies a revealing of some kind.

CHAVAH is very close to the word CHAYAH which does mean "to live" and this must be why Eve was associated with the living.

Whatever the case, it is indeed interesting that the name Eve, the female half of Adam, is associated with revelation. There is certainly a true principle here.