Genesis 2:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Marriage joins two lives so closely that God calls them one.
What Does Genesis 2:24 Mean?
Right after the first woman is brought to the first man, the narrator pauses to draw out what it means. A man leaves his father and mother, the home that made him, and joins himself to his wife in a new and lasting bond. The word for that joining means to cling, to be glued fast. And the two become one flesh, a union so deep it knits two separate lives into a single shared one. This is the pattern set at the very beginning, before any law or custom: a faithful, leaving-and-cleaving love meant to hold.
The closeness pictured here became a window onto something greater. The New Testament takes this one-flesh union and sees in it the bond between Christ and His people, a love that leaves heaven's glory, cleaves to us, and will not let go. The marriage of the first man and woman quietly foreshadows the faithfulness of the One who joins Himself to those He loves and calls them His own.
Genesis 2:24 in the Original Language
dabaq (דָּבַק), 'cleave' -- to cling, stick, or be joined fast to; a close and lasting attachment.
How to Apply Genesis 2:24 Today
This verse shows us that faithful love is meant to be a leaving and a cleaving, a bond built to last rather than to be lightly broken. And it lifts our eyes to Christ, who binds Himself to His people with that same unbreakable faithfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 2:24
What does Genesis 2:24 mean?
Marriage joins two lives so closely that God calls them one.
How can I apply Genesis 2:24 today?
This verse shows us that faithful love is meant to be a leaving and a cleaving, a bond built to last rather than to be lightly broken. And it lifts our eyes to Christ, who binds Himself to His people with that same unbreakable faithfulness.