"Which Bone Was Eve Made From?
The creation and Adam and Eve narratives are often said to be nice moral tales that convey spiritual truths. Being myth does not disqualify them from containing meaningful messages for modern readers.
So at wedding ceremonies and in sunday school classes bible-believers are regaled with the beautiful story of the God practising a bit of psychic surgery as his hand penetrates Adams side to pull out a rib which he used to create Eve.
And I suspect many theologians would prefer to keep it that way. Meaningful myth or symbol is sophisticated.
So whats wrong with the rib meaning the rib?
First, the Hebrew word used for rib is tsela (צְלָעֹת
, but this word never means rib anywhere else in the Bible
It usually means side. In architecture, it is used of a side-room or
cell, or of rafters or ceiling beams. The common idea in all these different meanings seems to be that of a tangent or branch extending out from a central structure or body. Given this basic sense, Adams tsela would seem to refer to a limb or appendage something that jutted out from his body.
Second, the image of a rib does not fit with the etiological agenda of the larger story. This is a narrative chock full of origin-myths tales explaining how things began: where humans came from, why snakes crawl, why people wear clothes, why women have labor pains, why marriage. But removing a rib from Adam and using it to create Eve explains nothing like this. Men dont have one less rib than women.
Third, the story is full of allusions to human sexuality (being naked and unashamed; recognizing they are naked; covering their genitals), but the rib detail does not relate to any of the sexual differences between men and women. It stands out as something of an anomaly for this reason, too.
Fourth, the rib story does not leave us with being able to make very much of what is meant by God closing up the flesh afterwards. Genesis 2:21:
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof
Again, considering the etiological (explanatory) nature of the story, this statement seems intended to explain the existence of some suture- or scar-like mark on the torsos of human males that is not found on females. But there is no such mark on males at least not near their ribs. (p.5)
Hebrew Bible scholar, Ziony Zevit, suggests that the Hebrew tsela might really refer to the baculum. From that Wikipedia article:
In another, non scientific, context, it has been speculated that Adams rib mentioned in the Eden narrative of Creation really refers to the baculum. The Hebrew term translated as rib (tsela`) can also mean side, chamber, as well as any strut-like supporting structure, e.g. a beam or a tree trunk. The existence of the baculum is unlikely to escape the notice of pastoralisthunter-gatherer cultures . . . . , but there is no specific term for it nor for the penis itself in Biblical Hebrew.
The benefit of this explanation is that it matches the etiological nature of the Genesis story. We have an explanation for why humans, unlike just about all other male animal, lack a penis bone. It was removed by God in order to make Eve from it."
source
Kinda what I've always thought.