I am curious from reading the mehanical translation of Genesis (Jeff A Benner,) if the rib taken from Adam could be interpreted as the womb, and any solid information which supports or contradicts.
I am attempting to read the oldest form of the bible or "rawest" as a lot can be lost in translation. Unfortunately, I can not read Hebrew and am reliant on the translations (hypocritical I know.) Please correct me if I am misinterpreting the hebrew itself. Also I will be using Adam/Eve over other names as it's the main names I know. I'll also be using the term womb loosely to include other areas of female anatomy.
Another question (linked below) says צֵלָע (tsela) can be regarded as "side" and "rib" perhaps in the same ambiguous way we can say 'chest' or 'tummy/belly' in English. This appears to be commonplace in that anger can be stated as 'to flare nostrils.' When God is named literally as "YHWH-Elohiym" this can be translated to "[Exists]-[Powers]" or 'The powers that be." This is a very abstract interpretation considering the time period had many physical gods and deities.
Additionally, another commented that the rib is the only bone in the body which can regenerate scientifically; which I believe potentially makes it a suitable metaphor for the womb/ female reproductive organs (Even today we have many different words for genitals that come from other words e.g. flower, snake.) When finding human skeletons, early people would have seen men and women have different skeletons easily by counting ribs. Arguably this could have been an extended metaphor for "reproductive organ" or womb and by proxy if Adam was an intersex being (As also seen more literally in 1:27.)
Genesis 2:21 references: וַיַפֵל יְּהוָּה אֱלֹהִׁים תַרְּדֵמָּה עַל הָּאָדָּם וַיִׁישָּן וַיִׁקַח אַחַת 2:21 מִׁצַלְּעֹתָּיו וַיִׁסְּגֹר בָּשָּׂר תַחְּתֶנָּה
and~ he~ will~ make~ Fall “YHWH [He exists]” “Elohiym [Powers]” Trance Upon the~ Human and~ he~ will~ Sleep and~ he~ will~ Take Unit from~ Rib~ s~ him and~ he~ will~ Shut Flesh Under~ her
For me the specific "her" is important, as it appears prior that he-human was used to reference Adam, and the passage afterwards clearly references Eve as her-woman. Similar to French, it appears the Hebrew uses masculine and feminine forms for words. From what I know even a group of sons and daughters can also have masculine grammar associated (36:25)- so whilst her is definitively female, him appears to be gender neuteral in some capacity or to mean masculine-plus. Therefore, specifying 'her' in relation to God changing Adam's physiology seems very clearly defined. I will also note here that the ground is given femnine form (4:12) and as Adam is from the earth itself, it could mean they were meant to be coded as female before the sexes were discriminated.
Whilst "under" can also mean "in place of" which could mean flesh in place of bone/rib, "under" could be Adam having their reproductive organs or "flesh" "Shut." Referring back to how "rib" can also be translated as "side" ovulation and menstrual pains are often felt in the sides, and more abstractly "side" gives reference to different sides or personas (perhaps as men and women are both human, they are both two sides of the same species?)
Lastly, is the use of the term "functional." In the seven days of creation, "functional" is the word used once each subject is in place (e.g. sky, day, night.) The creation is also termed as God "fattened" (2:3) which is similar to fertile land swelling or the swelling of a womb. In this way the act of fattening/swelling and giving life seem to be intertwined.
וַיֹאמֶר יְּהוָּה אֱלֹהִׁים לֹא טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָּאָדָּם לְּבַדוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂה לוֹ עֵזֶר 2:18 כְּנֶגְּדוֹ it is not functional for the human existing by himself, I will make for him a helper such as his opposite,
The tree of knowledge also seems to allude to being able to dichotomise between "function" and "dysfunction" a heavenly power. To early people being able to grow an entire human inside you and birth them is certainly a wonder (even today it leaves us in awe) so "function" could be seen a the ability to create or to put into motion.
I'd be interested in anyone's opinions on the matter, especially in regards to the original hebrew transcript.
I am new to this site so please bear with me and I apologise in advance for any faux pas. The link referenced: Is the translation "rib" for the Hebrew צֵלָע (*tsela*) in Genesis 2:22 justified?
