Genesis 2 · Verse 21

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;
Genesis 2:21, King James Version

Genesis 2:21 in other translations

BSBSo the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh.
WEBThe LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
ASVAnd Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:
YLTAnd Jehovah God causeth a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he sleepeth, and He taketh one of his ribs, and closeth up flesh in its stead.
DARBYAnd Jehovah Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon Man; and he slept. And he took one of his ribs and closed up flesh in its stead.
BBEAnd the Lord God sent a deep sleep on the man, and took one of the bones from his side while he was sleeping, joining up the flesh again in its place:
WebsterAnd 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 in its place.

What does Genesis 2:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. deep sleep--probably an ecstasy or trance like that of the prophets, when they had visions and revelations of the Lord, for the whole scene was probably visible to the mental eye of Adam, and hence his rapturous exclamation. took one of his ribs--"She was not made out of his head to surpass him, nor from his feet to be trampled on, but from his side to be equal to him, and near his heart to be dear to him."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, etc. - This was neither swoon nor ecstasy, but what our translation very properly terms a deep sleep. And he took one of his ribs - It is immaterial whether we render צלע tsela a rib, or a part of his side, for it may mean either: some part of man was to be used on the occasion, whether bone or flesh it matters not; though it is likely, from verse Gen 2:23, that a part of both was taken; for Adam, knowing how the woman was formed, said, This is flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone. God could have formed the woman out of the dust of the earth, as he had formed the man; but had he done so, she must have appeared in his eyes as a distinct being, to whom he had no natural relation. But as God formed her out of a part of the man himself, he saw she was of the same nature, the same identical flesh and blood, and of the same constitution in all respects, and consequently having equal powers, faculties, and rights. This at once ensured his affection, and excited his esteem.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 2:18-25

Power over the creatures was given to man, and as a proof of this he named them all. It also shows his insight into the works of God. But though he was lord of the creatures, yet nothing in this world was a help meet for man. From God are all our helpers. If we rest in God, he will work all for good. God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam; while he knows no sin, God will take care that he shall feel no pain. God, as…

Read the full comment on Genesis 2:18-25 →

Genesis 2:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּפֵּל֩vai.ya.Peland he made fallH5307
יְהוָ֨הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֱלֹהִ֧ים\׀'E.lo.HimGodH430
תַּרְדֵּמָ֛הtar.de.Maha deep sleepH8639
עַל\־'al-onH5921
הָאָדָ֖םha.'a.Damthe manH120
וַיִּישָׁ֑ןvai.yi.Shanand he fell asleepH3462
וַיִּקַּ֗חvai.yi.Kachand he tookH3947
אַחַת֙'a.ChatoneH259
מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יוmi.tzal.'o.Tavof ribs hisH6763
וַיִּסְגֹּ֥רvai.yis.Gorand he closed upH5462
בָּשָׂ֖רba.SarfleshH1320
תַּחְתֶּֽנָּה\׃tach.Te.nahin place of itH8478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 2:21

  • Genesis 15:12

    And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

  • Job 4:13

    In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

  • Job 33:15

    In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

  • 1 Samuel 26:12

    So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

  • Daniel 8:18

    Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

  • Proverbs 19:15

    Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
15:12; 1Sa 26:12; Job 4:13; 33:15; Pr 19:15; Da 8:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 2:20

    And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

  • 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;

  • Genesis 2:22

    And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Read all of Genesis 2

Genesis 2:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Jehová Dios hizo caer sueño sobre Adam, y se quedó dormido: entonces tomó una de sus costillas, y cerró la carne en su lugar;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ Éternel Dieu fit tomber un profond sommeil sur l’homme, et il dormit; et il prit une de ses côtes, et il en ferma la place avec de la chair.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jehova Gott ließ einen tiefen Schlaf auf den Menschen fallen, und er entschlief. Und er nahm eine von seinen Rippen und verschloß ihre Stelle mit Fleisch;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Immisit ergo Dominus Deus soporem in Adam: cumque obdormisset, tulit unam de costis ejus, et replevit carnem pro ea.