This second chapter of the Book of Genesis offers us a more intimate and detailed account of creation than the first. Unlike the grand cosmic vision of Genesis 1, Genesis 2 paints a picture of a loving God who forms man from the dust and breathes life into him.
At this stage, man exists alone in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by creatures, but lacks a suitable companion. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, creation myths often depicted the making of humans through acts of war or the struggles of deities.1 But in Genesis, creation is presented as an act of love, culminating in a unique relationship born out of divine wisdom and generosity.
The Divine Initiative: “It is not Good that man should be alone”
For the first time in creation, God declares that something is not good. Up until now, every act of creation was followed by God’s joyful affirmation: “And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10, etc.). But here, something is incomplete. The Hebrew word lō˗tôb means more than just “not good”; it implies something unfinished, lacking wholeness.
God, in His infinite wisdom, does not leave man in solitude. Instead, He declares: “I will make him a helper fit for him”. The Hebrew phrase ‘ēzer ke˗negdô is often misunderstood. “Helper” (‘ēzer) does not imply “inferiority”. In fact, the same word is used for God Himself as the helper of Israel (Psalm 33:20, Deuteronomy 33:26). It means a strong support, a complement. “Ke˗negdô” literally means “corresponding to him”, someone equal yet distinct, a partner who mirrors and completes him.
The Deep Mystery of the Creation of Woman
God does not create the woman from the dust of the earth as He did with the man. Instead, He causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep, and from his side (sela ̒), He forms the woman. This word is often translated as “rib” in English. But in Hebrew, sela ̒ also means “side” or “part of a structure”. This suggests not merely a bone, but a profound oneness; the woman comes from within man, emphasizing their unity and shared nature.
When Adam beholds Eve, his response is one of wonder and recognition: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ (ishshah), because she was taken out of man (ish). The Hebrew wordplay here between ish and ishshah shows their intrinsic connection. Man and woman are two halves of one whole, designed to journey together in communion with God.
The Covenant of Marriage: A Return to Unity
Genesis 2:24 reveals the fundamental truth about marriage: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse establishes marriage as a divine institution. The phrase “one flesh” signifies more than physical unity; it represents a total giving of self, a covenantal bond that reflects God’s own love.
Naked and Unashamed: The Original Harmony
Genesis 2:25 states: “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” This verse speaks of more than physical nudity; it symbolizes a state of pure love, trust, and communion, a relationship without fear, guilt, or selfishness. Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve experienced love as God intended: a love rooted in complete openness and mutual gift.
May we receive this biblical passage as an invitation to rediscover the sacredness of human relationships. We know how the word “Love” is often distorted by selfishness, and relationships reduced to transactions. God is calling us back to the original vision of love, a love that is self-giving, mutual, and rooted in Him. It reveals that God made us for communion, and not for isolation, whether in marriage, friendship, or spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood.
May we, like Adam, learn to behold each other with wonder, reverence, and gratitude, recognizing in human relationship a reflection of the divine. Amen.
1 Dally Stephanie, Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others, Oxford University, 2000, 368p.
Thanks dear Fr. Alex. The reflection on love and its impact on relationships is enriching.
Thank you so much, dear Sr. Chidimma, for your kind words!
I ‘m grateful that the reflection resonated with you. The account in Genesis 2 beautifully invites us to rediscover the beauty of Love and Communion as God intended. It Is always enriching to explore and uncover the wisdom embedded in these biblical narrations.
Blessings !