Bible professor, Ziony Zevit, claims that God created Eve from Adam’s penile bone and not from his rib.
According to Zevit, the original Hebrew word used in the Old Testament, “tsela,” does not translate to “rib” as it has been inferred for nearly a millennia.
Zevit claims that “tsela” refers to limbs sticking out to the side from upright body parts like the feet or the hands. In the case of men, this could also be the penis. Since the penis is the only such body part that lacks a bone, it is likely because God created Eve from that appendage.
Zevit says that the words “tzela” and “tsela” appear in the Bible in different contexts. He adds that this is what has led translators astray.
Zevit analyzes these claims in his book, “What really happened in the Garden of Eden.” The Biblical Archaeological Review, which claims to be the world’s best-selling Biblical archaeology magazine, published a review of Zevit’s book.
The review angered many subscribers of the magazine. Some even canceled their subscription on the grounds that it was damaging their faith.
Canadian Rev Don Brubacher dismissed Zevit’s claims as “outlandish,” “laughable” and “totally unconvincing.” However, not everyone is hypercritical of Zevit’s theory. Peter Bentley, a correspondent from, Hong Kong dubs it as an “extraordinary literary experience” if not a religious one.
Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, published an article debunking Zevit’s theory. The article reasons that “it is clear that God is taking something from Adam of which he has many.”
Besides, stories of creation from the rib appear not only in the text of the KJV bible but in other religions as well. In the Sumerian myth, Enki, who is a central God, becomes sick. His mother cures him by giving birth to two healing Gods from her ribs.
One of the Gods has the name “Ninti” which literally means “Lady who gives life” and “Mrs. Rib.” In the Biblical context, Eve is often referred to as the “Mother of all life.”
Moreover, “tzela” means rib not only in post-biblical Hebrew, but it also has a similar meaning in almost any known Semitic language. The article reasons that this, “powerfully indicates that tzela meant “rib” thousands and thousands of years before proto-Semitic split up into the different Semitic languages.”
