“Snake”, “Life” or “Mother of All Living”? The Meaning of the Name חַוָּה (Eve) And Its Role in Gen 3

The Meaning of the Name חַוָּה (Eve) and its Role in Gen 3.

Krzysztof Napora

The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-4517


Abstract

In Gen 3:20, the redactor of the Book of Genesis reports for the second time the scene of naming the woman created by God from Adam’s rib (cf. Gen 2:21-23). The name אשׁה (woman) used by Adam in Gen 2:23 obviously relates—at least phonetically—to the noun אישׁ (man). In this way, the editor expresses the idea of a certain relationship between man and woman. The existence of a similar, simple connection between the name חַוָּה (Eve) and the title אם כל־חי (the mother of all living) is far less obvious and this conundrum has been noticed by translators and exegetes for at least 2000 years. An echo of these difficulties seems to be perceptible in the text of the Septuagint, in the writings of Philo and Josephus, in the Targums, as well as in the writings of some ancient Christian writers. This article represents one further attempt to present the panorama of modern hypotheses concerning Eve’s name and the role this naming play in Gen 3.

Keywords:

Gen 3, Gen 3:20, Eve, naming, the mother of all living

Arnold, B.T. – Choi, J.H., A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2003). (Crossref)

Barr, J., Comparative Philology and the Text of the Old Testament (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns 1987).

Bauer, H., “Kanaanäische Miszellen,” Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 71 (1917) 410–313.

Baumgartner, W. et al., Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Leiden: Brill 1994–2000) I–IV (= KBL).

Brown, F. – Driver, S.R. – Briggs, C.A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon with an Appendix Containing the Biblical Aramaic (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson 2003) (= BDB).

Cassuto, U., Commentary on the Book of Genesis. I. From Adam to Noah. Genesis I – VI.8 (Jerusalem: Magnes 1961).

Clemens Alexandrinus, Protrepticus, in: Clement of Alexandria, The Exhortation to the Greeks. The Rich Man’s Salvation. To the Newly Baptized (trans. G.W. Butterworth; Loeb Classical Library 92; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press – London: Heinemann 1960).

Eitan, I., “Two Onomatological Studies: The Name Eve – The Name Abraham,” Journal of the American Oriental Society 49 (1929) 30–33. (Crossref)

Field, F. (ed.), Origenis Hexaplorum quae supersunt, sive veterum interpretum Graecorum in totum Vetus Testamentum fragmenta (Oxford: Clarendon 1875) I–II.

Freedman, H. (trans.), Midrash Rabbah. Genesis (ed. 3; London – New York: Soncino 1983) I.

Gressmann, H., “Mythische Reste in der Paradieserzählung,” Archiv für Religionswissenschaft 10 (1907) 345–367.

Gunkel, H., Genesis (Handkommentar zum Alten Testament 1; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck &

Ruprecht 1901).

Halévy, J., “Annexe au procès-verbal de la séance du 13 novembre 1903: 1. Le nom d’Eve. 2. Nabuchodonosor. 3. Juges, VI, 37. 4. Psaumes, XVII, 13, 14,” Journal asiatique 10 (1903) 522–528.

Hamilton, V.P., The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1–17 (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1990).

Heller, J., “Der Name Eva,” An der Quelle des Lebens. Aufsätze zum Alten Testament (eds. J. Heller – W. H. Schmidt; Beiträge zur Erforschung des Alten Testaments und des antiken Judentum 10; Frankfurt am Main et al.: Lang 1988) 83–103.

Hess, R.S., Studies in the Personal Names of Genesis 1–11 (Alter Orient und Altes Testament 234; Kevelaer – Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag 1993).

Huffmon, H.B., Amorite Personal Names in the Mari Texts. A Structural and Lexical Study (Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins UP 1965).

Isidorus, Etymologiae, in: Isidori Hispalensis Episcopi Etymologiarum sive originum Libri XX (Scriptorum Classicorum Bibliotheca Oxoniensis; Oxonii: e Typographeo Clarendoniano 1911).

Jastrow, M., Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (New York: Judaica Treasury 2004).

Joüon, P.M., – Muraoka, T., A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew (Subsidia biblica 27; Roma: PIB 2006).

Kautzsch, E. (ed.), Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar (trans. A.E. Cowley; ed. 2; Oxford: Clarendon 1910).

Kikawada, I.M., “Two Notes on Eve,” Journal of Biblical Literature 91 (1972) 33–37. (Crossref)

Lagarde, P.D., Onomastica sacra (Hildesheim: Olms 1966).

Lambdin, T.O., Wprowadzenie do hebrajskiego biblijnego (Materiały Pomocnicze do Wykładów z Biblistyki 11; Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2011).

Layton, S.C., “Remarks on the Canaanite Origin of Eve,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 59/1 (1997) 22–32.

Lidzbarski, M., Ephemeris für semitische Epigraphik. I. 1900–1902 (Giessen: Ricker 1902). (Crossref)

Maher, M., Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. Genesis (The Aramaic Bible 1B; Collegeville, MI: Liturgical Press 1992).

Meinhold, J., “Die Erzählungen vom Paradies und Sündenfall,” Beiträge zur alttestamentlichen

Wissenschaft. Karl Budde zum Siebzigsten Geburtstag am 13. April 1920 überreicht von Freunden und Schülern und in ihrem Namen (ed. K. Marti; Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 34; Giessen: Töpelmann 1920).

Napora, K., “«Wąż», «Życie» czy «Matka wszystkiego, co żyje»? Znaczenie imienia חַ וּהָ (Ewa) i jego funkcja w Rdz 3,” “Niewiastę dzielną kto znajdzie?” (Prz 31,10). Rola kobiet w biblijnej historii zbawienia (eds. A. Kubiś – K. Napora; Analecta Biblica Lublinensia 14; Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL 2016) 15–27.

Nöldeke, T., “Beiträge zur semitischen Religionsgeschichte. Der Gott Israel’s und die Götter der Heiden by Friedr. Baethgen,” Zeitschrift Der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 42/3 (1888) 470–487.

Philo D’Alexandrie, De agricultura (ed. J. Pouilloux; Les Oeuvres de Philon d’Alexandrie 9; Paris: Cerf 1961).

Philo D’Alexandrie, Legum allegoriae I–III (ed. C. Mondésert; Les Oeuvres de Philon d’Alexandrie 2; Paris: Cerf 1962).

Philo D’Alexandrie, Quaestiones et solutiones in Genesim I et II e versione armeniaca (ed. C. Mercier; Les Oeuvres de Philon d’Alexandrie 34A; Paris: Cerf 1979). (Crossref)

Philo D’Alexandrie, Quis rerum divinarum heres sit (ed. M. Harl; Les Oeuvres de Philon d’Alexandrie 15; Paris: Cerf 1966).

von Rad, G., Genesis. A Commentary (The Old Testament Library; Philadelphia, PA: Westminster 1973).

Ramsey, G.W., “Is Name-Giving an Act of Domination in Genesis 2:23 and Elsewhere?,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 50 (1988) 24–35.

Rogland, M., Alleged Non-Past Uses of Qatal in Classical Hebrew (Studia Semitica Neerlandica 44; Assen: Royal Van Gorcum 2003). (Crossref)

Rosenthal, F., A Grammar of Biblical Aramaic (ed. 6; Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz 1995).

Skinner, J., Genesis (International Critical Commentary 1; Edinburgh: Clark 1910).

Smith, W.R. – Cook, S.A. – Goldziher, I., Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia (London: Black 1903).

von Soden, W., Akkadisches Handwörterbuch (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz 1965) I–III.

Trible, P., God and the Rhetoric of Sexuality (Overtures to Biblical Theology 2; Philadelphia: Fortress 1978).

Van der Merwe, C.H.J. – Naudé, J.A. – Kroeze, J.H., A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar (Biblical Languages: Hebrew 3; London: Sheffield Academic Press 1999).

Vriezen, T.C., Onderzoek naar de Paradijsvoorstelling bij de oude semietische Volken (Wageningen: Veenman & Zonen 1937).

Waltke, B.K. – O’Connor, M., An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns 1990).

Wellhausen, J., Reste arabischen Heidentums (Berlin: Reimer 1897). (Crossref)

Westermann, C., Genesis 1–11 (A Continental Commentary; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press 1994).

Wevers, J.W., Notes on the Greek Text of Genesis (Septuagint and Cognate Studies Series 35; Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press 1993).

Williams, A.J., “The Relationship of Genesis 3.20 to the Serpent,” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 89 (1977) 357–374. (Crossref)

Zeegers-Vander Vorst, N., „Satan, Éve et le serpent chez Théophile d’Antioche,” Vigiliae Christianae 35 (1981) 152–169. (Crossref)

Zimmermann, F., “Folk Etymology of Biblical Names,” Volume du Congrès – Genève 1965 (eds. G.W. Anderson – P.H. De Boer – G.R. Castellino; Supplements to Vetus Testamentum 15; Leiden: Brill 1966) 311–326. (Crossref)

Download

Published
2022-03-30


Napora, K. (2022). “Snake”, “Life” or “Mother of All Living”? The Meaning of the Name חַוָּה (Eve) And Its Role in Gen 3 . Verbum Vitae, 40(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.13547

Krzysztof Napora  naporus@gmail.com
The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

Ks. Krzysztof Napora - sercanin, doktor nauk biblijnych, absolwent Wyższego Seminarium Misyjnego Księży Najświętszego Serca Jezusowego w Stadnikach, Papieskiej Akademii Teologicznej w Krakowie, Pontifcio Istituto Biblico w Rzymie,  Rothberg International School Uniwersytetu Hebrajskiego w Jerozolimie oraz École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem. Od 2012 r. pracownik naukowo-dydaktyczny Instytutu Nauk Biblijnych KUL (aktualnie Sekcji Nauk Biblijnych).

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-4517



License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The author(s) grant (s) to the Licensee a non-exclusive and royalty-free license in accordance with the provisions of the Appendix: LICENSE TO USE THE WORK