The Formation of Man
In the original Hebrew, there is a significant difference between Adam and Eve. When Adam is created, the verb yatzar יצר is used. This means “He fashioned,” and is the same verb used for a potter who fashions jars out of clay. The verb yatzar is the default word for divine creation, appearing numerous times in Genesis.
Woman: A Masterpiece of Creation
In the case of the Eve’s creation, the verb banah בנה meaning “He built,” is used instead. This is the only place in the Bible where build means to create. Why? The verb banah בנה is related to the word binah בינה meaning “intelligence.” This suggests that Eve is hardly inferior to Adam. On the contrary! From the beginning, woman was provided with a superior sense of knowledge.
Connection to the Messiah
The prophet Isaiah wrote about the future Messiah and said a shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse: “The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding (binah)” (Isa. 11:2). The Messiah, like Eve, began as an offshoot of something grand. She set the stage for future generations of empowerment. Discover more nuances like these and learn Biblical Hebrew today.
