Genesis 3:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 3:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the man called his wife`s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the man called his wife`s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And the man called his wife`s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, etc.] Whom he had before named “Ishah”, a woman, because taken from him the man, (<010223>Genesis 2:23) and now gives her a new name upon this scene of things, which had taken place; which is derived not from “Chavah”, to “show forth”, to “declare”; as if she was called so, because of her discourse with the serpent, being loquacious and talkative, and telling everything she knew, according to some Jewish writers f230; but from “Chayah, to live”, as the reason given in the text shows. She is called Aeon “(Aevum)” by Philo Byblius, the interpreter of Sanchoniatho f231. The word “Eve” is retained in many Heathen writers, and used to be frequently repeated in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Adam called his wife's name Eve--probably in reference to her being a mother of the promised Saviour, as well as of all mankind.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- XVI. The Judgment 15. שׁוּף shûp “bruise, wound.” τηρεῖν (=τερεῖν?) tērein ἐκτρίβειν ektribein Job 9:17, καταπατεῖν katapatein Psalms 139:11, συντρίβειν suntribein Romans 16:20. 16. תשׁוּקה teshûqâh “desire, inclination.” αποστροφή apostrofee, ἐπιστροφή epistrophē Song of Solomon 7:11. 20. חוּה chavâh Eve, “the living, life, life-place, or village.” This passage contains the examination of the transgressors, Genesis 3:8-13; the sentence pronounced upon each, Genesis 3:14-19; and certain particulars following thereupon, Genesis 3:20-21. Genesis 3:8-9 The voice, we conceive, is the thunder of the approach of God and his call to Adam. The hiding is another token of the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“God having named the man, and called him Adam, which signifies red earth, he in farther token of dominion named the woman, and called her Eve - That is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve of the living soul. The reason of the name is here given, some think by Moses the historian, others by Adam himself, because she was - That is, was to be the mother of all living. He had called her Isha, woman, before, as a wife; here he calls her Evah, life, as a mother. Now, 1. If this was done by divine direction, it was an instance of God's favour, and, like the new naming of Abraham and Sarah, it was a seal of the covenant, and an assurance to them, that notwithstanding their sin, he had…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:20-24 Soon after they were judged for their sin, Adam and Eve were banished from the garden. 3:20 Eve (Hebrew khawah) sounds like a Hebrew term (khayah) that means “to give life.” Following God’s pronouncement of Adam’s impending death (3:19), Adam expressed hope by giving Eve a name associated with life. Adam’s naming of Eve in such close proximity to 3:16 may suggest that the narrator views it as Adam’s first act of ruling over the woman after the Fall (see study note on 2:19-20).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Adam: Gen 2:20, Gen 2:23, Gen 5:29, Gen 16:11, Gen 29:32-35, Gen 35:18; Exo 2:10; Sa1 1:20; Mat 1:21, Mat 1:23 Eve: Heb. Chavah; that is, living of: Act 17:26 Genesis 3:21”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“As justice and mercy were combined in the divine sentence; justice in the fact that God cursed the tempter alone, and only punished the tempted with labour and mortality, mercy in the promise of eventual triumph over the serpent: so God also displayed His mercy to the fallen, before carrying the sentence into effect. It was through the power of divine grace that Adam believed the promise with regard to the woman's seed, and manifested his faith in the name which he gave to his wife. Eve, an old form of , signifying life (&#x3b6;&#x3c9;&#x3b7; , lxx), or life-spring, is a substantive, and not a feminine adjective meaning "the living one," nor an abbreviated form of , from = (Gen 19:32, Gen…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification