Word Pictures

Female....what does the Hebrew word for female mean? I was asked this question by a friend a few years ago. I wrote this in answer to  his question.

Neqebah...(nek-a-ba) from the root word meaning to separate, designate, specify.

While researching the word 'female' in the original Hebrew I also found this.

Man was formed (yitzer).

Woman was built (yiben). This opens up a bunch of new questions. Doesn't it?

Adam as a word was used to describe the first human. It means earthy, red, of the ground.

Eve means mother of all living.

Adam was formed, Eve built from Adam.

The idea that came to me involved the genetics of it.

Men have XY chromosomes.

Women have XX.

When we are told of the building of 'woman' God tells us that He took a 'rib' from Adam.

Take a look at the letters X & Y

Doesn't it look as if a 'rib' has been taken from the X to make a Y?

Just my opinion, but it sure looks that way to me. Am I on to something?

Eve is described as the mother of all living. Did you know that in genetics, the female chromosome in the mitochondria does not change from the mother to the offspring, even if the offspring is male? This makes it possible to trace genetic lineage far into the past only through the female.

Here's another interesting bit of information. The root word of 'built' is similar to the root word for intuition, understanding, and insight.

Yiben (built)...Hebrew letters...Beit-Nun-Hei

Bineh (insight)...Hebrew letters...Beit-Yod-Nun-Hei

You may ask, 'So what?' but in the Hebrew language things like that matter! Each letter itself is a picture and has meaning behind it. 

One last thought from my inquiring mind.Adam was formed in God's image. As I sat thinking of the names of God, El Shaddai in particular, I saw that God is describing Himself as a nurturer, the breasted one, which is primarily a female characteristic.

Then we see that in "building" Eve, God "separated" the image of Himself into two distinct persons, male and female.

We can see easily that the primary male personality trait is to provide and protect, and the female personality trait is to nourish and care for. Does this all mean that God is both male and female? Logical thinking would lead us to that conclusion! And also add a whole new dimension to the term, the two shall become one! A return to the spiritual unity of the Creator.

Everyone who "thinks" they know what the Old Testament scriptures say, ought to study the Hebrew language. Each letter has a significant meaning and is a picture in itself. The translated scriptures can often be ambiguous, having many interpretations. But in reading them in the original language there are often layers of meaning, that if peeled back will reveal deeper truths under the surface. Once you begin searching out the meaning intended in the original language you will find the wisdom of God.