Debi Pearl's book does not teach that the woman was taken from the man's side: Helpmeet P/8

                                        Read Part One HERE

In this post I will share my teaching on the term "tsela" which has been translated as "rib" in Genesis 2: 21-22
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.
Then the Lord God made the woman from the rib He had taken out of the man and brought her to the man.

Having understood from Scripture that the woman as the man's "helper" was to be formed as his equal in all respects, which means her equality in being as well as in function, we will now look at how God did this, which will only confirm her equality to the man.

Having created the man God went to work once again. This time He created the women by taking a part of the man which has been translated as "rib." The Hebrew term for "rib" is "tsela" and has been used in other parts of the Old Testament when it has been translated as "side." (Exodus 25:12; Exodus 26:26-27).

In these passages the term "tsela" each time refers to an entire side and not just to a small part of a structure. It is only in Genesis 2:22 that the term "tsela" has been translated as "rib."

It is very likely that in the case of Genesis 2:22 the term "tsela" has been translated as "rib" because translators were influenced by Jewish Rabbis as Rabbi Joshua who has written:
"I must not create her from Adam's head for she would be a proud person and hold her head high.
If I create her from the eye then she will wish to pry into all things.
If from an ear then she will wish to hear all things.
If from the mouth she will talk much.
If from the heart she will envy people.
If from the hand she will desire to make all things.
If from the feet she will always be going around.
Therefore I will create her from a member which is hid; that is the rib which is not even seen when man is naked."

However, this points to a very biased view and is not in line with Scripture because in Scripture the term "tsela" clearly indicates that the woman was taken from the man's side and confirms her equality to the man in every respect.

P.S. The sad truth is that today many men and women do not function according to this wonderful design. The reason for our malfunctioning is an event called the Fall as mentioned in Genesis 3. At that time the man began to rule over the woman as foretold by God in Genesis 3:16d (And he will rule over you.) I will explain how that became a reality in my next post.

See my website www.ministryto-silencedwomen.com/Abridged/Introduction

 

Read Part Nine HERE