Moriah Grace
Gender Before the Fall
Author’s Note:
This article will cover all mentions of God’s and human’s genders in Genesis 1 and 2, inspecting the Hebrew language of each verse.
Of note, some differences may be noticed between this article and some of the layout choices promised in the introduction. I have added a few more nuances and nearly eliminated others as I dig deeper into the series. This is in order to give as accurate of information as possible. It is my goal to edit and make changes to the series as new discoveries come to light in order to provide accurate articles that flow in an easy to read and comprehend way.
Because I do not speak Hebrew, I will be relying heavily on translations (primarily Strong’s Concordance) of individual words and my limited knowledge of grammatical structure.
While my research is based on an interlinear version, for ease of reading verses will be presented in the ESV translation, with words marked in the English character version of the original. It is of note that the translation to English characters is not always smooth and sometimes seems to lose the nuances of the original text. Some words appear the same, but have slightly different translations. In rare cases, the definition differs from the ESV translation. These words will be defined below the passage. A phrase I will commonly use is “As translated”, meaning that there is no translation for that word to my knowledge beyond the translation used in the text.
While in many places the word “he” or “she” is added, the Hebrew text frequently conveys this via its use of verbs. Hebrew verbs include a gender which points to the gender of the person or being portrayed (Van Pelt, n.d.). Typically speaking, this is how the gender is assigned in translations. Due to this nature of the verbs, I will include the gender for all verbs throughout, (excepting the rare verbs that convey no gender). That being said, I will leave it up to the reader to decipher who the character is to which it applies (do not forget inanimate objects such as the earth).
It is also of note that often one Hebrew word translates into several in English, and these are frequently shifted into a different order to fulfill grammatical rules within a passage. While it does not affect the translation (and in fact makes it more accurate), it does somewhat confuse the placement when Hebrew words are shown. The Hebrew version will always be placed after the last word of a series of words it translates to in the English version. This may be somewhat inaccurate, and I encourage you to look up an interlinear version (see bibliography at the end) in order to get a full picture of what words relate to which other words. This is also why some of the words and genders marked for a verb do not directly follow an English verb in the passage.
Some repetitiveness may occur in translations of words, this is to make references back to certain passages easier to read without referring back to notes on past verses.
My intention is that every word conveying gender is marked in some way. That being said however, some may slip through the cracks. Also, it is of note that some “he”/“she” has been added to English translations to convey the gender indicated in other ways in the Hebrew text. These naturally will not be marked with their meaning as the word essentially corresponds to a different word that is marked with a gender and/or definition. Much of the critical thinking is left to the reader to interpret the text.
Breakdown of Genesis 1-2:
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning, God created (bārā, masculine) the heavens and the earth.”
(Genesis 1:1 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:2
“The earth was (hāyâ, feminine) without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering (or moved, rāḥap̄, feminine) over the face of the waters.”
(Genesis, 1:2 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:3
“And God said (āmar, masculine), “Let there be (hāyâ, masculine) light,” and there was (hāyâ, masculine) light.”
(Genesis 1:3 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:4
“And God saw (rā’â, masculine) that the light was good. And God separated (bāḏal, masculine) the light from the darkness.”
(Genesis 1:4 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:5
“God called (qārā’, masculine) the light Day, and the darkness he called (qārā’, masculine) Night. And there was (hāyâ, masculine) evening and (hāyâ, masculine) there was morning, the first day.”
(Genesis 1:5 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:6
“And God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Let there be (hāyâ, masculine) an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let (hāyâ, masculine) it separate (bāḏal, masculine) the waters from the waters.’”
(Genesis 1:6 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:7
“And God made (ʿāśâ, masculine) the expanse and separated (bāḏal, masculine) the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was (hāyâ, masculine) so.”
(Genesis 1:7 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:8
“And God called (qārā’, masculine) the expanse Heaven. And there was (hāyâ, masculine) evening and (hāyâ, masculine) there was morning, the second day.”
(Genesis 1:8 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:9
“And God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together (qāvâ, masculine) into one place, and let the dry land appear (rā’â, masculine).’ And it was (hāyâ, masculine) so.”
(Genesis 1:9 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:10
“God called (qārā’, masculine) the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called (qārā’, masculine) Seas. And God saw (rā’â, masculine) that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:10 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:11
“And God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Let the earth sprout (dāšā’, feminine) vegetation, plants yielding (zāraʿ, masculine) seed, and fruit trees bearing (ʿāśâ, masculine) fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.’ And it was (hāyâ, masculine) so.”
(Genesis 1:11 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:12
“The earth brought forth (yāṣā’, feminine) vegetation, plants yielding (zāraʿ, masculine) seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing (ʿāśâ, masculine) fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw (rā’â, masculine) that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:12 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:13
“And there was (hāyâ, masculine) evening and (hāyâ, masculine) there was morning, the third day.”
(Genesis 1:13 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:14
“And God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Let there be (hāyâ, masculine) lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be (hāyâ, both genders) for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,”
(Genesis 1:14 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:15
“and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.’ And it was (hāyâ, masculine) so.”
(Genesis 1:15 ESV, BLB)
Gen. 1:16
“And God made (ʿāśâ, masculine) the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.”
(Genesis 1:16 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:17
“And God set (nāṯan, masculine) them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,”
(Genesis 1:17 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:18
“to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw (rā’â, masculine) that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:18 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:19
“And there was (hāyâ, masculine) evening and (hāyâ, masculine) there was morning, the fourth day.”
(Genesis 1:19 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:20
“And God said (āmar, masculine), ‘Let the waters swarm (šāraṣ, masculine) with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly (ʿûp̄, masculine) above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.’”
(Genesis 1:20 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:21
“So God created (bārā’, masculine) the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves (rāmaś, masculine), with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw (rā’â, masculine) that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:21 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:22
“And God blessed (bāraḵ, masculine) them, saying, ‘Be fruitful (pārâ, masculine) and multiply (rāḇâ, masculine) and fill (mālā’, masculine) the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply (rāḇâ, masculine) on the earth.’”
(Genesis 1:22 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:23
“And there was (hāyâ, masculine) evening and (hāyâ, masculine) there was morning, the fifth day.”
(Genesis 1:23 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:24
“And God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Let the earth bring forth (yāṣā’, feminine) living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.’ And it was (hāyâ, masculine) so.”
(Genesis 1:24 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:25
“And God made (ʿāśâ, masculine) the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw (rā’â, masculine) that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:25 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:26
“Then God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Let us make man (’ā·ḏām) in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion (rāḏâ, masculine, plural) over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps (rāmaś, masculine) on the earth.’”
(Genesis 1:26, ESV, BLB)
“’A·ḏām” means “mankind”, or “human” (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 1:27
“So God created (bārā’, masculine) man (hā·’ā·ḏām) in his own image, in the image of God he created (bārā’, masculine) him; male (zā·ḵār, as translated) and female (ū·nə·qê·ḇāh, as translated) he created (bārā’, masculine) them.”
(Genesis 1:27, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “mankind”, while also being used as Adam’s name (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed (bāraḵ, masculine) them. And God said (‘āmar, masculine) to them, ‘Be fruitful (pārâ, masculine) and multiply (rāḇâ, masculine) and fill (mālā’, masculine) the earth and subdue (kāḇaš, masculine) it, and have dominion (rāḏâ, masculine) over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves (rāmaś, feminine) on the earth.’”
(Genesis 1:28, ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:29
“And God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding (zāraʿ, masculine) seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with (zāraʿ, masculine) seed in its fruit. You fshall have (hāyâ, masculine) them for food.”
(Genesis 1:29, ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:30
“And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps (rāmaś, masculine) on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was (hāyâ, masculine) so.’”
(Genesis 1:30 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 1:31
“And God saw (rā’â, masculine) everything that he had made (ʿāśâ, masculine), and behold, it was very good. And there was (hāyâ, masculine) evening and (hāyâ, masculine) there was morning, the sixth day.”
(Genesis 1:31, ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:1
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished (kālâ,masculine), and all the host of them.”
(Genesis 2:1 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:2
“And on the seventh day God finished (kālâ, masculine) his work that he had done (ʿāśâ, masculine), and he rested (šāḇaṯ, masculine) on the seventh day from all his work that he had done (ʿāśâ, masculine).”
(Genesis 2:2, ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:3
“So God blessed (bāraḵ, masculine) the seventh day and made it holy (qāḏaš, masculine), because on it God rested (šāḇaṯ, masculine) from all his work that he had done (bārā’, masculine) in creation.”
(Genesis 2:3, ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:4
“These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.”
(Genesis 2:4 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:5
“When no bush of the field was yet (hāyâ, masculine) in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up (ṣāmaḥ, masculine)—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain (māṭar, masculine) on the land, and there was no man (wə·’ā·ḏām) to work the ground,”
(Genesis 2:5, ESV, BLB)
“Wə·’ā·ḏām” appears to mean “mankind” or “human” (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:6
“and a mist was going up (ʿālâ, masculine) from the land and was watering (šāqâ, masculine) the whole face of the ground—”
(Genesis 2:6, ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:7
“then the Lord God formed (yāṣar, masculine) the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) of dust from the ground and breathed (nāp̄aḥ, masculine) into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) became (hāyâ, masculine) a living creature.”
(Genesis 2:7, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:8
“And the Lord God planted (nāṭaʿ, masculine) a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put (śûm, masculine) the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) whom he had formed (yāṣar, masculine).”
(Genesis 2:8, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:9
“And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up (ṣāmaḥ, masculine) every tree that is pleasant (ḥāmaḏ, masculine) to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
(Genesis 2:9 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:10
“A river flowed out (yāṣā’, masculine) of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided (pāraḏ, masculine) and became (hāyâ, masculine) four rivers.”
(Genesis 2:10 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:11
“The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around (sāḇaḇ, masculine) the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.”
(Genesis 2:11 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:12
“And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there.”
(Genesis 2:12 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:13
“The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around (sāḇaḇ, masculine) the whole land of Cush.”
(Genesis 2:13 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:14
“And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows (hālaḵ, masculine) east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.”
(Genesis 2:14 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:15
“The Lord God took (lāqaḥ, masculine) the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) and put him (yānaḥ, masculine) in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
(Genesis 2:15, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:16
“And the Lord God commanded (ṣāvâ, masculine) the man (hā·’ā·ḏām), saying, ‘You may surely eat (some versions “freely”, ‘āḵal, masculine) of every tree of the garden,”
(Genesis 2:16 ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:17
“but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat (‘āḵal, masculine), for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (mûṯ, masculine).’”
(Genesis 2:17 ESV, BLB)
Genesis 2:18
“Then the Lord God said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘It is not good that the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) should be alone; I will make him a helper (‘ê·zer) fit for him.’”
(Genesis 2:18, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:19
“Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed (yāṣar, masculine) every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought (bô’, masculine) them to the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) to see what he would call (qārā’, masculine) them. And whatever the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) called (qārā’, masculine) every living creature, that was its name.”
(Genesis 2:19, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:20
“The man (hā·’ā·ḏām) gave (qārā’, masculine) names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam (’ā·ḏām) there was not found (māṣā’, masculine) a helper fit for him.”
(Genesis 2:20, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
’Ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:21
“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall (nāp̄al, masculine) upon the man (hā·’ā·ḏām), and while he slept (yāšan, masculine) took (lāqaḥ, masculine) one of his ribs and closed up (sāḡar, masculine) its place with flesh.”
(Genesis 2:21, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:22
“And the rib that the Lord God had taken (lāqaḥ, masculine) from the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) he made (bānâ, masculine) into a woman (lə·’iš·šāh) and brought her (bô’, masculine) to the man (hā·’ā·ḏām).”
(Genesis 2:22, ESV, BLB)
“Lə·’iš·šāh” means “woman” or “wife” (Strong, 1890).
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:23
“Then the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) said (‘āmar, masculine), ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called (qārā’, masculine) Woman (’iš·šāh), because she was taken (lāqaḥ, feminine) out of Man (mê·’îš)’”
(Genesis 2:23, ESV, BLBI)
Hā·’ā·ḏām means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
“’Iš·šāh” means “woman” or “wife”, depending on the context (Strong, 1890).
“Mê·’îš” is typically male, however is sometimes used to mean “anyone” (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:24
“Therefore a man (’îš) shall leave (ʿāzaḇ, masculine) his father (’ā·ḇîw, as translated) and his mother (’im·mōw, as translated) and hold fast (dāḇaq, masculine) to his wife (bə·’iš·tōw), and they shall become one flesh.’”
(Genesis 2:24, ESV, BLB)
“’Iš” is typically male, unless referring to everyone (Strong, 1890).
“Bə·’iš·tōw” means “woman” or “wife” (Strong, 1890).
Genesis 2:25
“And the man (hā·’ā·ḏām) and his wife (wə·’iš·tōw, as translated) were (hāyâ, masculine) both naked and were not ashamed (bûš, masculine).”
(Genesis 2:25, ESV, BLB)
“Hā·’ā·ḏām” means “man” or “human” or refers to Adam specifically, depending on context (Strong, 1890).
Author’s Thoughts:
Given the Fall does not occur until Genesis 3, these are the only two chapters in the Bible showing God’s original Pre-Fall design for the world. Genesis 1 and 2 are an interesting peek into what the world would be like if it was not for sin and the resulting curse. While future chapters will show a downward spiral of sin and cursing, these passages show what the world was meant to look like.
As it relates to our topic, while only direct mention of gender in Genesis 1 is in verses 26-28, where humans are created in God’s likeness, blessed by God, and given dominion over creatures and plants, God is implied to be male through the verbs used.
In regards to humans, the wording in verses 26-27a is somewhat vague as to if it is referring to “man” or “humans” (Strong, 1890). It seems likely all of humanity (both male and female) was created in God’s likeness, from the end of the verse “male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, ESV), implying this passage (Genesis 1:26-30) is jumping ahead to when both had been created, then going back in time to show the details of their creation in Genesis 2:7-25. It seems unlikely that Genesis 1:26-30 refers only to “man” or “Adam” rather than humans as a whole. It is more likely their likeness to God, dominion over the earth, and blessing given by God applies to both Adam and Eve, as well as all humans, especially as “male and female” are specifically mentioned in the passage (Genesis 1:27, ESV).
In verse 28, God gives the command “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28, ESV), while not directly relating to gender, does indirectly relate as gender roles are a part of giving birth to, and often raising, a child. It seems likely due to the statement “fill the earth” (Genesis 1:27, ESV) that this command was given for the specific reason of spreading throughout the earth, rather than going extinct. This command is reiterated in Genesis 9:1 and 9:7, which takes place just after the Flood, when there are only eight humans remaining on the earth.
Genesis 2 includes more references to gender than Genesis 1. In this chapter, God takes Adam first, puts him in the garden and gives him instructions for all mankind (Genesis 2:15-17), which will later be passed on to Eve, as, although this is not specifically mentioned in scripture, Eve does appear to have a passing knowledge of the commands given by God, namely not to eat of the fruit, in Genesis 3:3. God then says “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (‘ê·zer) fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18, ESV). The word “‘ê·zer” is the same word as used in Psalm 89:19, “Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said: “I have granted help (‘ê·zer) to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.” (Psalm 89:19, ESV, ABPI). In this instance God is the helper or “‘ê·zer”.
While God says here that a helper is needed for the man, the passage then steps away for a moment before Eve is created. The layout is interesting, and likely important. Adam then names the animals and in doing so realizes what God has just said, namely that he is alone and without a mate (Genesis 2:19-20). It seems this may have been the purpose of Adam naming the animals before Eve was created, rather than naming them later. God then creates a helper, Eve, from a piece of Adam, essentially splitting him into two separate people (Genesis 2:21-23). They are, quite literally, two parts of one flesh of the same person. Adam or Man names Woman, and reiterates the unity between them, and marriage is outlined as a leaving of family to become as one with a spouse, and reuniting of the two halves (Genesis 2:24). Men and women came from one flesh, and should be of one flesh. That said, this command does not necessarily mean that everyone will, or even should, get married. 1 Corinthian 7:8 says “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.” (1 Corinthians 7:8, ESV). It’s merely stating how a healthy relationship should look.
Woman coming from man shows a closer relationship between the two than with male and female animals. The two are, quite literally, one. It seems disputes and conflict between the genders were not in God’s original plan. A closer relationship between man and wife is shown here than elsewhere in the Bible. Throughout the next chapters, this will quickly change into striving between the two genders (Genesis 3:16).
Bibliography
English Standard Version Bible, 2016
Strong, J. (1890). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB10658005
Van Pelt, M. V. (n.d.). English grammar to ace Biblical Hebrew. Zondervan Academic.
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