Gina Johnson
The term deep sleep appears seven times in the Old Testament, and in each instance, it appears to refer to a unique state brought on by God to impart a significant revelation. In Genesis 2:21, God puts Adam into a deep sleep before performing surgery on him, removing one of his ribs, and closing the flesh. This surgery results in the creation of a bride for Adam, from whose seed will come all the nations of the earth. This interpretation suggests that the deep sleep facilitated a pivotal moment in the completion of God's intended design for humanity.
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What You'll Learn
Deep sleep as a state induced by God
The term "deep sleep" (Hebrew tardema) appears seven times in the Old Testament, and each instance seems to refer to a unique state induced by God to convey a significant revelation to or through the individual experiencing it. This state of deep sleep is described as being brought upon an individual by God, during which important events or revelations occur.
In the first instance of deep sleep in Genesis, God puts Adam into a deep sleep in order to take one of his ribs and create a bride for him. This act is described as the first anesthesia before surgery, with God performing a surgical procedure on Adam's body of flesh, blood, and bone. The creation of Eve, or "the Woman," from Adam's rib is a significant event as it completes God's intended design for the human race, with Eve being a complementary part of Adam, expressing the duality and interplay of energies within the image of God.
The second occurrence of deep sleep in Genesis is when it "fell upon Abram" (Genesis 15:12). During this deep sleep, God established a covenant with Abram, promising that from his seed would come the chosen nation. This covenant is a significant moment in the Bible as it sets the stage for the birth of a nation and the delegation of dominion over the earth to Abraham's descendants.
The concept of deep sleep in Genesis and the Old Testament suggests a state of heightened vulnerability and openness to divine intervention. It is during this sleep that God is able to impart profound revelations, shape the course of history, and fulfill promises. This state of deep sleep induced by God sets the stage for pivotal moments in the biblical narrative, highlighting the power and sovereignty of the divine.
The interpretation of deep sleep as a divinely induced state underscores the active role of God in the lives of individuals and the broader narrative of salvation history. It suggests a level of trust and surrender on the part of the sleeper, allowing God to temporarily suspend conscious awareness in order to bring about a greater purpose or revelation. This theme of deep sleep adds a layer of spiritual depth to the Bible, emphasizing the interplay of the divine and human realms and the unique relationship between God and those who faithfully serve Him.
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The creation of Eve
The story begins with God's realization that it was not good for Adam to be alone. So, he decided to create a "helper" for him. God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and, while he slept, he performed surgery on him, removing one of his ribs and closing the flesh. From this rib, God created Eve, a companion for Adam, and the first woman. This event is often interpreted as the separation of the "Allness of Adam" into two distinct energies, male and female, expressed in physical form as man and woman.
The deep sleep that fell upon Adam is described in the Hebrew as "tardema", a unique term that appears seven times in the Old Testament. It implies a supernatural state induced by God to convey a revelation or accomplish a specific purpose. In the case of Adam, the deep sleep facilitated the creation of Eve and the establishment of the covenant between God, Adam, and Eve, delegating dominion over the earth to their descendants.
The story of Eve's creation also sets the foundation for the institution of marriage. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ affirmed the significance of marriage between a man and a woman, referencing the creation of Eve from Adam's rib (Matthew 19:4-6). This narrative continues to shape Christian beliefs about marriage and the sacredness of the union between husband and wife.
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The separation of Adam's 'Allness'
The book of Genesis describes how God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, during which God performed surgery on Adam, removing one of his ribs and closing the flesh. This is referred to as the first anaesthesia.
The deep sleep is believed to be a special state induced by God to convey an important revelation. In this instance, God created a bride for Adam, from whose seed would come all the nations of the earth.
The deep sleep in Genesis is interpreted by some as a separation of Adams' Allness into two distinct energies. Before this separation, Adam was a being that was both male and female, created in the image and likeness of God, containing and expressing the Allness of God.
The separation of Adam's Allness is a depiction of the interplay between different energies and spiritual forces. It is a creative process that requires a sense of duality and an interplay of energies from a single source. This interpretation suggests that the Power of God within each person is separated into two complementary entities, with physical forms expressing the dominant spiritual force in a particular life experience.
The separation of Adams' Allness, therefore, represents a metaphysical truth about the nature of God and humanity, revealing a spiritual purpose and the interplay of different aspects of a divine Source.
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God's covenant with Abraham
In the Bible, a deep sleep is referred to as "tardema" in Hebrew, and it occurs seven times in the Old Testament. Each instance of deep sleep seems to be induced by God to convey a significant revelation. In the case of Adam, God put him into a deep sleep to create a bride for him, from whose seed would come all the nations of the earth. This event is described in Genesis 2:21-23:
> "So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man."
Moving on to God's covenant with Abraham, it is central to the plot and storyline of Scripture, being the basis for the rest of the narrative. God's covenant with Abraham is an unconditional covenant, as seen in Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 15, where God alone moves between the halves of sacrificial animals. This covenant includes the promise of land (Genesis 12:1 and 13:15) and blessings for Abraham and his family (Genesis 12:2-3). God also promises to make Abraham a “great nation” (Genesis 12:2), indicating the formation of a kingdom ruled by God, which would be far more significant than any man-made kingdom.
The covenant with Abraham establishes a formula: "I will be your God and you will be my people" (Genesis 17:8). Circumcision is given as a sign of the covenant (Genesis 15), and Abraham's obedience is tested and confirmed by God (Genesis 18-19).
In summary, God's covenant with Abraham is a pivotal moment in the Bible, setting the stage for the relationship between God, Abraham, and his descendants, and ultimately leading to the New Covenant ratified by Jesus Christ.
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The removal of Adam's rib
In Genesis 2:21, God puts Adam into a deep sleep, during which he removes one of Adam's ribs and closes the flesh. This is the first instance of the term "deep sleep" (Hebrew tardema) in the Old Testament. The text reads:
> "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof."
Some scholars have debated the exact nature of the surgical procedure, questioning whether God simply closed a hole in Adam's side or regrew the rib after removal. The Hebrew word used in the text, "סגר" (sagar), means "to close" or "shut up any kind of opening." This suggests that God closed the opening in Adam's side rather than regrowing the rib.
The creation of Eve from Adam's rib emphasizes the intimate connection between them and their shared origin in the image of God. This interpretation highlights the unity and equality between man and woman, as both are essential aspects of the divine.
The deep sleep and subsequent removal of Adam's rib serve as a pivotal moment in the creation narrative, shaping the relationship between man, woman, and their Creator. It also sets the stage for the covenant between God and humanity, as God delegates dominion over the earth to Adam and Eve's descendants.
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Frequently asked questions
"Deep sleep" in Genesis refers to a state induced by God to convey an important revelation.
In Genesis 2:21, God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and took one of his ribs to create a bride for him.
The Hebrew term "tardema" is used seven times in the Old Testament to describe a unique state of sleep induced by God.
The "deep sleep" enabled God to create a bride for Adam, from whose seed all the nations of the earth would descend.
