Scripture
20 The man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.
Audio Commentary
Abstract
In the wake of judgment, Adam names his wife, and the small act carries covenant weight. Having recalled God’s promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent, Adam names Eve in a way that testifies to his steadfast faith in the word of God — a quiet mark of God’s favor even after the Fall.
Brief Observations
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Adam and Eve’s names — As God named Adam for the earth from which he was formed, so Adam now names his wife — the naming carrying the weight God elsewhere gives it when He renames someone to seal a covenant.
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A name of faith — Recalling the promise that the woman’s seed would crush the serpent, Adam names Eve in a way that testifies to his steadfast faith in the word of God — a mark of God’s favor, whether at His direction or Adam’s own initiative.
Full Commentary
God named Adam. He named him Adam to signify that he was made from the earth. Adam’s name also points to his habitation on the earth. Adam is the one who named Eve, and her name means “life” or “one who gives life” which is appropriate considering she was the first human mother. In this way she is the mother of all living. Before the Fall Adam simply called her woman, it wasn’t until after that her name was given as Eve.
I believe this is another instance of God’s favor and we see other examples of God changing a person’s name in order to seal a covenant. Remember the protoevangelium described the seed of the woman crushing the serpent’s head. In order for this gospel promise to come true, the woman would have to become a mother. Our first parents displeased God with commission of their sin, but God was faithful and He didn’t reverse His initial blessing that they should be fruitful and multiply.
You might argue that Adam named her this way of his own accord and it wasn’t at God’s direction. Even if this is the case, it still demonstrates Adam’s steadfast faith in the word of God. Even in his corrupted condition he trusts that God is faithful to keep His promises. Either way the naming of Eve illuminates the love of God for humanity. God loved Adam and Eve enough that He would allow them to become the parents of all living despite their disobedience. It’s also a commentary on God’s love for humanity writ large, because He knew their children and all future generations would similarly be corrupted by sin — but he permitted them life anyway. And I also think it’s possible Adam named her Eve with an eye toward the fulfillment of God’s prophecy through her. Her lineage would bring forth Christ Jesus, who is the Source of all life. In Him all the families of the world would be blessed. And to give Eve this name right after receiving a curse for his disobedience would demonstrate a kind of unshakable trust in God all of us could aspire to.