While it’s nice to hear the Hebrew approximated, each Hebrew name in these chapters is loaded with meaning that does not translate into English:
The Hebrew for Adam means “Humanity.”The Hebrew for Eve means “Life.”The Hebrew for Eden means “Delight.”The Hebrew for Cain means “Spear.”The Hebrew for Abel means “Fleeting Breath”
Our English Bibles could be summarized as follows:
Adam and Eve initially live in the garden of Eden.After God kicks them out, Cain kills his brother Abel.
However, if we focus on the meaning rather than the sound of these names, Genesis 2–4 looks a bit different.
The Hebrew could be summarized like this:
Humanity and Life initially live in the garden of Delight.After God kicks them out, Spear kills his brother Fleeting Breath.
Names alone don’t determine whether a story is symbolic or historical. However, Genesis 2–4 has other clues that it’s more symbolic in nature. There’s a talking snake—with no explanation of why the snake can do more than hiss (3:1). The directions to the garden in Genesis 2:10-14 describe the world as a whole, rather than a single location. No one has ever found angelic beings guarding the entrance to the forbidden garden (3:24). The Hebrew text has poetic qualities, and Hebrew poetry is filled with symbolism. These factors, combined with highly meaningful names, suggest that the story as a whole should be seen as symbolic.
But when we see what the Hebrew names actually mean, then Genesis 2–4 appears less about science or history and more a symbolic story that helps us understand who we are, who God is, and why the world works the way it does. The words behind “Adam” and “Eve” are invitations to see ourselves in these characters. When translators kept the Hebrew sounds for “Adam,” “Eve,” and their children’s names, they also surrendered the rich meanings of these names that allow us to see what the opening of Genesis is really all about.
--- Matthew Richard Schlimm, 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Abingdon Press.
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