Genesis 2:24
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Therefore shall a man leave his father, and his mother,.... These are thought by some to be the words of Moses, inferring from the above fact, what ought to be among men; and by others, the words of Adam under divine inspiration, as the father of mankind instructing his sons what to do, and foretelling what would be done in all succeeding ages: though they rather seem to be the words of God himself, by whom marriage was now instituted; and who here gives direction about it, and declares the case and circumstance of man upon it, and how he would and should behave: and thus our Lord

Jesus Christ, quoting these words, makes them to be the words of him that made man, male and female, and supplies and prefaces them thus, and said, "for this cause", &c. Mat 19:5 so Jarchi paraphrases them,"the Holy Ghost said so:''not that a man upon his marriage is to drop his affections to his parents, or be remiss in his obedience to them, honour of them, and esteem for then, or to neglect the care of them, if they stand in need of his assistance; but that he should depart from his father's house, and no more dwell with him, or bed and board in his house; but having taken a wife to himself, should provide an habitation for him and her to dwell together: so all the three Targums interpret it, of quitting "the house of his father, and his mother's bed": and shall cleave unto his wife; with a cordial affection, taking care of her, nourishing and cherishing her, providing all things comfortable for her, continuing to live with her, and not depart from her as long as they live: the phrase is expressive of the near union by marriage between man and wife; they are, as it were, glued together, and make but one; which is more fully and strongly expressed in the next clause: and they shall be one flesh; that is, "they two", the man and his wife, as it is supplied and interpreted by Christ, Mat 19:5 and so here in the Targum of Jonathan, and in the Septuagint and Samaritan versions: the union between them is so close, as if they were but one person, one soul, one body; and which is to be observed against polygamy, unlawful divorces, and all uncleanness, fornication, and adultery: only one man and one woman, being joined in lawful wedlock, have a right of copulation with each other, in order to produce a legitimate offspring, partaking of the same one flesh, as children do of their parents, without being able to distinguish the flesh of the one from the other, they partake of: and from hence it appears to be a fabulous notion, that Cecrops, the first king of Athens, was the first institutor of matrimony and joiner of one man to one woman; whence he was said to be "biformis" (p), and was called unless, as some (q) have thought, that he and Moses were one and the same who delivered out the first institution of marriage, which is this. (p) Justin. e Trogo, l. 2. c. 6. (q) Vid. Saldeni Otia Theolog. Exercitat. 1. sect. 14. p. 13, 14.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (13 words)

H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H3651 כֵּן
Definition:

29+ (on possibly construct see2near the end); pluralכֵּנִיםGenesis 42:11,19,31,33,34; —1right, usually indecl., often as substantivea right thing, especially with vbb.dicendiExodus 10:29(J)כֵּן דִּבַּ 29+ (on possibly construct see2near the end); pluralכֵּנִיםGenesis 42:11,19,31,33,34; —1right, usually indecl., often as substantivea right thing, especially with vbb.dicendiExodus 10:29(J)כֵּן דִּבַּ

Possible Meanings:
  • thus (semantic_range)
  • as follows (semantic_range)
H5800 עָזַב
Definition:

A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc. -- commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.Brown-Driver-BriggsI.עָזַב213verbleave, forsake, loose A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc. -- commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.Brown-Driver-BriggsI.עָזַב213verbleave, forsake, loose

Possible Meanings:
  • restore (semantic_range)
  • repair (semantic_range)
H0376 אִישׁ
Definition:

23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ 23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ

Possible Meanings:
  • man (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H0001 אָב
Definition:

1947t.; constructאַבGenesis 17:4,5; (compare inאַבְרָהָםib.& elsewhere in proper names. On Hal's proposedאֲבִרseeאברהם);אֲבִי(compare Ge§§ 90, 3b, 96)Genesis 4:20+; suffixאָבִיGenesis 19:34+ (MIאבי);א 1947t.; constructאַבGenesis 17:4,5; (compare inאַבְרָהָםib.& elsewhere in proper names. On Hal's proposedאֲבִרseeאברהם);אֲבִי(compare Ge§§ 90, 3b, 96)Genesis 4:20+; suffixאָבִיGenesis 19:34+ (MIאבי);א

Possible Meanings:
  • father (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H0517 אֵם
Definition:

12+; constructGenesis 3:20+; suffixאִמִּיGenesis 20:12+ etc.; plural only suffixאִמֹּתֵנוּLamentations 5:3;אִמֹּתָםJeremiah 16:3;Lamentations 2:12(twice in verse); —1literal (human)mother, as parentG 12+; constructGenesis 3:20+; suffixאִמִּיGenesis 20:12+ etc.; plural only suffixאִמֹּתֵנוּLamentations 5:3;אִמֹּתָםJeremiah 16:3;Lamentations 2:12(twice in verse); —1literal (human)mother, as parentG

Possible Meanings:
  • dam (semantic_range)
  • point of departure (semantic_range)
  • division (semantic_range)
H1692 דָּבַק
Definition:

22t.;וְדָבַקconsecutiveGenesis 2:24;דָּבֵ֑ק2 Kings 3:3; 3feminine singularדָּֽבְקָהRuth 1:145t.;דָּבֵ֑קָהJob 29:10; 1singularדָּבַקְתִּיPsalm 119:31; 3pluralדָּֽבְקוּ2 Samuel 20:2;וְדָֽבְקוּconsecutiv 22t.;וְדָבַקconsecutiveGenesis 2:24;דָּבֵ֑ק2 Kings 3:3; 3feminine singularדָּֽבְקָהRuth 1:145t.;דָּבֵ֑קָהJob 29:10; 1singularדָּבַקְתִּיPsalm 119:31; 3pluralדָּֽבְקוּ2 Samuel 20:2;וְדָֽבְקוּconsecutiv

Possible Meanings:
  • cling (semantic_range)
H0802 אִשָּׁה
Definition:

33+; constructאֵשֶׁתGenesis 11:29+ (apparently absoluteDeuteronomy 21:11;1 Samuel 28:7;Psalm 58:9but compare Bö§ 728Ges§ 130. 5); suffixאִשְׁתִּיGenesis 20:11+;אִשְׁתְּךָGenesis 12:18+ (אֶשְׁתְּךָPsal 33+; constructאֵשֶׁתGenesis 11:29+ (apparently absoluteDeuteronomy 21:11;1 Samuel 28:7;Psalm 58:9but compare Bö§ 728Ges§ 130. 5); suffixאִשְׁתִּיGenesis 20:11+;אִשְׁתְּךָGenesis 12:18+ (אֶשְׁתְּךָPsal

Possible Meanings:
  • an offering made by fire (semantic_range)
H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)
H1320 בָּשָׂר
Definition:

21126t.; constructבְּשַׂרGenesis 17:1140t.; suffixבּשָׂרִיetc.Psalm 16:996t.; pluralבְּשָׂרִיםProverbs 14:30; —1of the body:a.of animalsGenesis 41:2-19Exodus 21:28;Exodus 22:30;Numbers 12:12(E)Numbers 21126t.; constructבְּשַׂרGenesis 17:1140t.; suffixבּשָׂרִיetc.Psalm 16:996t.; pluralבְּשָׂרִיםProverbs 14:30; —1of the body:a.of animalsGenesis 41:2-19Exodus 21:28;Exodus 22:30;Numbers 12:12(E)Numbers

Possible Meanings:
  • flesh (semantic_range)
H0259 אֶחָד
Definition:

5#NAME?אַחַ֫דGenesis 21:15+; so even before preposition1 Samuel 9:3and elsewhere see Dr; feminine absoluteאַחַ֫תGenesis 2:21+;אֶחָ֑תGenesis 11:1+; constructאַחַ֫תDeuteronomy 13:13+; plural masculineאֲ 5#NAME?אַחַ֫דGenesis 21:15+; so even before preposition1 Samuel 9:3and elsewhere see Dr; feminine absoluteאַחַ֫תGenesis 2:21+;אֶחָ֑תGenesis 11:1+; constructאַחַ֫תDeuteronomy 13:13+; plural masculineאֲ

Possible Meanings:
  • one (semantic_range)
  • one (semantic_range)
  • each (semantic_range)
  • every (semantic_range)
  • a certain (semantic_range)

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