The Meaning of Genesis 3:20 Explained

Genesis 3:20

KJV: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

YLT: And the man calleth his wife's name Eve: for she hath been mother of all living.

Darby: And Man called his wife's name Eve; because she is the mother of all living.

ASV: And the man called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Adam  called  his wife's  name  Eve;  because she was the mother  of all living. 

What does Genesis 3:20 Mean?

Study Notes

Eve
i.e. living, or life-giver.

Context Summary

Genesis 3:9-21 - God's Condemnation Of Adam And Eve
God does not wait for Adam to find his own way back, but hastens in search of him. "Where art thou" is rendered in one version, Alas for thee. Jesus met the Tempter not in a garden, but in the wilderness. He suffered being tempted, but has become to all who obey Him a Life-giving Spirit, and the Author of Eternal Salvation. Read 1 Corinthians 15:45, and Hebrews 5:9. The penalty is gone, borne by Him in His own body on the Cross. So Paul affirms in Romans 5:14, etc. Our bias toward evil is counteracted by His indwelling through the Holy Spirit; so we are taught in Romans 8:1-4. He bruises Satan beneath the feet of those who trust Him. Such is His own assurance in Luke 10:19, and Mark 16:17. He transforms the other results of sin. Through pain the mother's love is drawn out to her child. Hard work is educative and ennobling. Death is the gate of life. Where sin abounded, grace abounds much more. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 3

1  The serpent deceives Eve
6  Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin
8  God arraigns them
14  The serpent is cursed
15  The promised seed
16  The punishment of mankind
21  Their first clothing
22  Their expulsion from paradise

What do the individual words in Genesis 3:20 mean?

And called Adam the name of his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living
וַיִּקְרָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם שֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ חַוָּ֑ה כִּ֛י הִ֥וא הָֽיְתָ֖ה אֵ֥ם כָּל־ חָֽי

וַיִּקְרָ֧א  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
הָֽאָדָ֛ם  Adam 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
שֵׁ֥ם  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ  of  his  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
חַוָּ֑ה  Eve 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַוָּה  
Sense: the first woman, wife of Adam.
כִּ֛י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הִ֥וא  she 
Parse: Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אֵ֥ם  the  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חָֽי  living 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.