Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

In the context of the story, Chris, no I don't think 'with her' is talking about the man with whom was she was living in the garden. It wouldn't be impossible, but it would be strange, given that they are the only two humans in the story. It would in that case seem to be a superfluous extra redundancy that quite plainly and simply is unneeded and unnecessary at all in any way, shape, or form.

Note, though, that we do eventually read about Cain possibly being killed by others, and taking a wife, at which point we start to wonder what the story hasn't told us. But that's later in the narrative.

GEORGE ATHAS

Dean of Research,

Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)

Sydney, Australia

From: Norman Cohn <normanncohn AT yahoo.com.br>
Reply-To: Norman Cohn <normanncohn AT yahoo.com.br>
Date: Saturday, 12 January 2013 2:19 AM
To: George Athas <george.athas AT moore.edu.au>, B-Hebrew <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Genesis 3:6, Adam was with Eve in the garden

Hi George,

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Do you think 'immah' could also be taken to mean that the man was with the woman in the sense that he lived with her in the garden and was her companion? The "man with her" would mean something like "the man who was living with her in the garden", not that he was right there by her side.  

 

I find it interesting that in Gen 3:12 we see "immadi" in Adam's reply to God: "the woman whom you gave to be with me (immadi)...". In this verse, do you think "immadi" could perhaps be read in a more general sense as the woman whom you gave "to be my companion" or "to live with me in the garden"?

 

 Best regards,

 

Norman Cohn

SP - Brazil.