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At each stage in creation God evaluated His work and concluded, “it was good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). One notable departure from this pattern occurred after Adam’s creation. After Adam had begun his work in the garden, the Lord observed: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18).

The Hebrew word that is translated “suitable” in this verse literally meant “what is in front of” and conveyed the idea of correspondence. Unlike the animals, which differed from Adam and among whom no helper could be found, Eve was comparable to Adam and suitable to the task. Eve’s equivalence to Adam was reflected in her creation. Although Adam and the other creatures were created from the earth, only Eve was taken from Adam himself. Adam so identified with Eve that he referred to her as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23).

Eve’s comparability to Adam is also indicated by the first name given to her in the Bible. Although she was called “Eve” after the Fall, Adam’s initial name for her was simply the feminine form of the Hebrew word for “Adam” or “man” (Gen. 2:22). Eve was Adam’s female counterpart.

Although Adam and Eve were alike in many ways, they were not identical. God’s original design for humanity involved two sexes. When God created humanity in His image, He created them to be “male and female” (Gen. 1:27).

Eve shared dominion over creation along with Adam but fulfilled this calling through her unique role as “the mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20). The New Testament affirms that men and women are equal in Christ and also acknowledges that they fulfill their calling differently (Gal. 3:28; 1 Tim. 2:11–15).