Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. The fact that it was not God but Adam that gave the name to Eve teaches us much. Why did not God give Eve her name, as He had done to Adam? God did not allow Adam to name himself, even in his innocence; yet now in his fall He permits him to name the woman, nay, sanctions his so doing. This was for such reasons as the following — 1. To show His grace. What grace, what tender love is displayed in allowing man to give a name to his wife — and such a name — Eve — LIFE! 2. To show that Adam was not to be deprived of his headship. He was still to be "head of the woman," even in his fall, and as such he names her. 3. To show, that though Adam had so cruelly flung blame upon her before God, yet no estrangement had followed. She was still bone of his bone. They had been companions in guilt, they were to be companions in sorrow, and they were fellow heirs of the hope just held out to them. Thus they were reunited in new bonds of mingled sadness and joy. 4. To show the direction in which Adam's thoughts were running, that from this manifestation of the current of his thoughts we might learn how the promise had taken hold of him. This verse gives us unequivocal insight into the state of Adam's feelings. It exhibits him to us as one who understood, believed, prized, rested on the Divine promise which he had just heard. He stands before us as a believing man; and we might say of him, "By faith Adam called his wife's name Eve." (H. Bonar, D. D.) Coats of skins. — Parallel Verses KJV: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.WEB: The man called his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living. |
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