The study of our ancestry has exploded since the advent of DNA studies. It’s being used as a fascinating hobby, to find long-lost relatives, and even to solve crimes! It has its limitations, however, as it only goes back about 6-8 generations. We’re going all the way back to creation to look at a member of all our genealogy- Eve. There are some beautiful lessons from Eve in the Bible.
You most likely know the story of Eve. You may even have some preconceived ideas about her. Let’s look at the facts about Eve in the Bible and learn all we can from her life.
Who Was Eve?
Genesis doesn’t give us a lot of information about Eve, but we have everything we need to extract important lessons.
Considering she is probably the most notable woman and mother in history, it is odd they hardly mentioned her.
How Many Times is Eve Mentioned in the Bible?
We find Eve’s story in the Old Testament in less than 20 verses in Genesis 2-5. The New Testament mentions her only twice: in 2 Corinthians 11:3 and 1 Timothy 2:13.
Eve, the Mother of All Living
Why was Eve called the mother of all living? One of Eve’s greatest accomplishments is the honor of being the mother of all humanity.
The “mother of all living” meaning comes from the scientific study of mitochondrial DNA. All humans have this and we pass it solely through the female line. Incredibly, the research shows we all share one common direct maternal ancestor, Eve, from the Bible.¹
Adam Names Eve
Eve doesn’t receive her name until after the fall and she and Adam receive the judgement and punishment for their sin. Until then, he knew her as a woman (Genesis 2:23), a wife, and a comparable helper.
Genesis 3:20-
“Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.”
Adam named Eve when he heard God’s promise of offspring and that one of them would defeat the serpent. Even facing ejection from paradise, Adam rejoices in the blessing that all life would come from Eve.
Eve in Hebrew
The name Eve is an English word developed over time from the Hebrew word “Chavah” or “Havah” meaning life-giver, to live. The name Eve came from translations into Greek and Latin, where the “C” or “H” became silent.²
The Story of Eve
God planted a magnificent garden and placed Adam there to care for it. God formed many animals and let Adam name them. (I always thought this ability to name each bird and animal quite amazing. God gave Adam quite an intellect!)
Genesis 2:20 continues the story, “But for Adam, no suitable helper was found.”
It may be possible that Adam noticed each animal had a mate. Perhaps it was God’s way of laying the groundwork for Adam to receive Eve as his mate…
When Was Eve Created?
God created Eve on the sixth day of creation:
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female, he created them.” Genesis 1:27.
Eve had the same divinely created nature as Adam with the same goal for all humanity- to honor God.
How Was Eve Created?
Genesis chapter 2 gives us the details:
“So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” vv21-22.
Isn’t it interesting that God made her different from Adam? He could have made her in the same way, but He chose to use Adam’s flesh and bone instead. Being formed from a physical part of Adam showed Eve truly was his perfect companion.
God brought Eve to Adam, at which point Adam says,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.” Genesis 2:23.
God gifted the institution of marriage to Adam and Eve. They were perfect for each other.
“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24.
They began their married life as caretakers of God’s beautiful garden. They were the first master gardeners.
Eve’s Temptation
We don’t know how long Adam and Eve worked and lived in paradise, but God made it clear there were rules.
“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17.
God didn’t put an electrified fence around the tree. He gave Adam and Eve a choice. God wanted them to obey, but gave them the freedom to make their own decisions.
God gives us free will in all things- including to love and obey Him.
Serpent Tempted Eve
Satan disguised himself as a serpent to begin his master plan of drawing us away from God. Eve was his first target.
At this point, Eve was the perfect woman, enjoying personal fellowship with God, living in a perfect environment, lacking nothing. She did not know evil.
Satan begins the invitation to his way of life:
“He said to the woman, Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” Genesis 3:1.
He sows a tiny seed of doubt and confusion in Eve’s mind.
Eve’s first mistake was to engage in a conversation with him at all. Her next mistake was to misquote God’s word and incorrectly add to it:
“We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” Genesis 3:2-3.
The serpent responds by lying and questioning God’s character-
“You will not surely die,” … “For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3:4.
Eve looked at the fruit, listened to the serpent’s argument, and, giving in to her desires, ate it. She then offered some to Adam. He accepts the fruit and eats it; also choosing to disobey God’s command.
It opened their eyes to their sin and disobedience. They realized they were naked, feeling shame and exposed. They sewed some fig leaves together as clothing.
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Why Did Eve Eat the Fruit?
Eve gave in to the doubt the serpent planted in her mind. Being tempted is not a sin. Eve could have resisted. She could have discussed it with Adam or called out to God to ask for clarification. She could have walked away.
Eve didn’t have a firm grasp of God’s word. She changed it to make it sound like God was more demanding (not to touch the tree.)
Eve knew God had forbidden them from eating the fruit from this tree. She lost sight of all the wonderful blessings she enjoyed each day. She gave in to temptation to have the one forbidden thing in the garden and to be like God.
Adam and Eve Hiding from God
It is a bit humorous; thinking they could hide from an all-knowing God. He knew where they were but calls out to reveal themselves.
Their sin didn’t erase God’s desire to have a relationship with Him. He gives them an opportunity to confess their guilt. But in fear, Adam blames Eve and God for giving her to him. God turns to Eve, and she blames the serpent.
We never need to fear our loving Father! Confessing their sin and taking accountability for their actions would have been the correct choice.
God then withdraws His perfect power from the earth, causing disorder (the cursing of the ground) and a life of hard work.
Eve’s Children
Banished from the garden, Adam and Eve face the consequences of their sin. Eve now has daily tasks (food, clothing, shelter) to help provide for her family. She subsequently has 2 sons, Cain and Abel. Cain grows up to be a farmer, and Abel kept flocks.
At one point, God accepts Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. In a fit of anger and jealousy, Cain murders his brother. Eve was experiencing God’s curse from Genesis 3:16: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow.”
Later on, Eve gives birth to another son, Seth. (Genesis 4:25)
How Many Children did Adam and Eve Have?
Genesis chapter 5 contains a list of Adam’s (and Eve’s) descendants. Adam was 130 when Seth was born!
Verse 5 tells us that after Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had “other sons and daughters”; dying at 930 years of age. If Eve lived to a comparable age, that would have been a lot of fertile years for her to bear children!
How long did Eve live? We don’t know, as they do not record it in the Bible.
Characteristics of Eve in the Bible
Satan easily deceived Eve because of a lack of knowledge of God’s Word, doubting God’s goodness, and desiring what she could not have.
Eve left paradise to a life of hard living. She had to learn new roles, all on her own, as farm wife and mother. She needed to be ingenious and hardworking to make a life for her family.
Eve gives God the glory when she gives birth to Cain, even after all she has endured outside Eden. Her gratitude reflects her faith in God’s provisions in her life.
She fulfills God’s command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.
Eve fulfilled the role God gave her– to be the perfect helper and companion to Adam.
Lessons from Eve in the Bible
●Focus on Your Blessings– Eve focused on what she couldn’t have instead of all the blessings God had showered on her. We need to practice gratitude every day.
●Know how to Resist Temptations– Eve entertained Satan’s lies instead of refusing to listen to him.
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
●Know the Word of God– Satan begins his temptation “Did God really say?…” Yes, He really did!
Eve let doubt creep in and Satan took advantage of that. God’s Word never changes and gives us all we need to make moral decisions.
●Our Mistakes are Redeemable– God shows us He is just, but also full of mercy, grace, and forgiveness in this story. We can make excuses and blame others for our mistakes, but it is always better to accept responsibilities for our own choices and actions.
Eve, First Woman
God makes it clear that they made Eve’s qualities in His image. Eve is His beloved child, no matter what choices she made. The purpose of His creation would not have succeeded without Eve and her daughters.
God gave us free will to follow and obey Him out of love, not obligation or fear. Eve’s story also shows us that nothing we do escapes God’s knowledge.
It seems there are two camps regarding Eve’s decision to eat the forbidden fruit. One response is sympathy. She was naïve and had never experienced evil or temptation. The other is to blame Eve for our situation of living with the curse of death.
The truth is, we mimic Eve each day when we make choices that go against God’s will. We give in to temptation, knowing our choice is wrong.
I hope this look into Eve’s life brings a new appreciation for God’s desire to have a relationship with us, no matter what we do. As his children, we have eternal relationship, life, deliverance and grace! Amen
Blessings!
AnnMarie
All Scripture is taken from the NIV unless specified otherwise.
²https://creation.com/five-things-about-eve
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