Note: I translate this with influence from my understanding of the Hebrew; this includes some changes in pronouns. Of particular note is my choice to use ey/em/eirs/emself pronouns for the human one (Adam). Additionally, I extended the pericope by one verse to reach the end of the chapter. These both affirm my hope to increase the variation in the ways the texts are read.
Genesis 2:18-24[25]
18And the Becoming God said: “It is not good that the human should be alone; I will make a helpmeet for em.” 19And out of the ground the Becoming God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the human to see what ey would call them; and whatsoever the human would call every living creature, that was to be the name they would be called. 20And the human gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the human, there was not found a helpmeet for em. 21And the Becoming God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the human, and ey slept; and God took one of eir ribs and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof. 22And from the rib, which the Becoming God had taken from the human, God made a woman and brought her unto the human. 23And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cling unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. 25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.
Queeries for the text
Why is this text foundational to the heterosexual contract
How does the way gender is constructed in this passage feel un/comfortable?
Why is the human the default, rather than the woman? What does this reflect about how we engage with the world?
Why were the animals not appropriate helpmeets?
Why were the animals not appropriate helpmeets?
How does this story impact our understanding of God's omniscience?
How does the rib coming from the human make the woman queer? What are the other ways these characters are queer?
Why has the chain of families become important to society?
Who else in the Bible clings to each other?
What does it mean to be naked and unashamed?
What are your queeries?
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