Genesis 3 · Verse 20

Genesis 3:20

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:20, King James Version

Genesis 3:20 in other translations

BSBAnd Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living.
WEBThe man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.
ASVAnd the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
YLTAnd the man calleth his wife's name Eve: for she hath been mother of all living.
DARBYAnd Man called his wife's name Eve; because she is the mother of all living.
BBEAnd the man gave his wife the name of Eve because she was the mother of all who have life.
WebsterAnd Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

What does Genesis 3:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. 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.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living - A man who does not understand the original cannot possibly comprehend the reason of what is said here. What has the word Eve to do with being the mother of all living? Our translators often follow the Septuagint; it is a pity they had not done so here, as the Septuagint translation is literal and correct: Και εκαλεσεν Αδαμ το ονομα της γυναικος αυτου Ζωη, ὁτι μητηρ παντων των ζωντων· "And Adam called his wife's name Life, because she was the mother of all the living." This is a proper and faithful representation of the Hebrew text, for the חוה Chavvah of the original, which we have corrupted into Eve, a word destitute of all meaning, answers exactly to the Ζωη of the Septuagint, both signifying life; as does also the Hebrew חי chai to the Greek ζωντων, both of which signify the living. It is probable that God designed by this name to teach our first parents these two important truths: 1. That though they had merited immediate death, yet they should be respited, and the accomplishment of the sentence be long delayed; they should be spared to propagate a numerous progeny on the earth. 2. That though much misery would be entailed on his posterity, and death should have a long and universal empire, yet One should in the fullness of time spring from the woman, who should destroy death, and bring life and immortality to light, 2Tim 1:10. Therefore Adam called his wife's name Life, because she was to be the mother of all human beings, and because she was to be the mother of Him who was to give life to a world dead in trespasses, and dead in sins, Eph 2:1, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 3:20-21
God named the man, and called him Adam, which signifies red earth; Adam named the woman, and called her Eve, that is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve of the living soul. Adam probably had regard to the blessing of a Redeemer, the promised Seed, in calling his wife Eve, or life; for He should be the life of all believers, and in Him all the families of the earth should be blessed. See also God's care for our first parents, notwithstanding their sin. Clothes came in with sin. Little reason have we to be proud of our clothes, which are but the badges of our shame. When God made clothes for our first parents, he made them warm and strong, but coarse and very plain; not robes of scarlet, but coats of skin. Let those that are meanly clad, learn from hence not to complain. Having food and a covering, let them be content; they are as well off as Adam and Eve. And let those that are finely clad, learn not to make the putting on of apparel their adorning. The beasts, from whose skins they were clothed, it is supposed were slain, not for man's food, but for sacrifice, to typify Christ, the great Sacrifice. Adam and Eve made for themselves aprons of fig-leaves, a covering too narrow for them to wrap themselves in, Is 28:20. Such are all the rags of our own righteousness. But God made them coats of skin, large, strong, durable, and fit for them: such is the righteousness of Christ; therefore put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 3:20 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.

וַיִּקְרָ֧אvai.yik.Ra'and he calledH7121
הָֽאָדָ֛םha.'a.Damthe manH120
שֵׁ֥םshem[the] name ofH8034
אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ'ish.Towife hisH802
חַוָּ֑הcha.VahEveH2332
כִּ֛יkiforH3588
הִ֥ואhi'sheH1931
הָֽיְתָ֖הha.ye.Tahshe wasH1961
אֵ֥ם'em[the] mother ofH517
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
חָֽי\׃Chailiving [person]H2416

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

Cross references for Genesis 3:20

  • Matthew 1:23

    Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

  • Genesis 2:23

    And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

  • 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 5:29

    And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.

  • Genesis 16:11

    And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

  • Genesis 29:32-35

    And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

  • Genesis 35:18

    And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben–oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

  • Exodus 2:10

    And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

  • Matthew 1:21

    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

  • 1 Samuel 1:20

    Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

  • Acts 17:26

    And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Adam.
2:20,23; 5:29; 16:11; 29:32-35; 35:18; Ex 2:10; 1Sa 1:20; Mt 1:21,23
Eve. Heb. Chavah; that is, living. of.
Ac 17:26

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

Context

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • Genesis 3:20

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

  • Genesis 3:21

    Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Read all of Genesis 3

Genesis 3:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y llamó el hombre el nombre de su mujer, Eva; por cuanto ella era madre de todos los vivientes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’homme appela sa femme du nom d’Ève, parce qu’elle était la mère de tous les vivants.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Mensch gab seinem Weibe den Namen Eva, denn sie war die Mutter aller Lebendigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et vocavit Adam nomen uxoris suæ, Heva: eo quod mater esset cunctorum viventium.