My husband and I were asked to each give our interpretation of what we think it is saying in Genesis 2:24 about "one flesh" I have not a clue other then sex. Does anyone else have any ideas?

For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.<BR>Genesis 2:24, New American Standard Bible<P>My Bible gives the following cross references:<BR>Matt 19:5, Mark 10:7,8 1 Cor 6:16, Eph 5:31<P>For this cause:<BR>Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh, called woman, taken out of man - from verse 23<P>Signifies that the woman comes from the man... <P>a man shall leave his father and mother:<BR>because his wife comes from him, not from his parents her significance is out of him, not from the parents (or her parents)<P>shall cleave to his wife: <BR>the priority relationship is the relationship of husband and wife, not parents<P>and THEY shall become one flesh:<BR>They are not "individuals in a relationship" but they are ONE, they are seen by GOD as one flesh, and should be viewed as one flesh<P>AND ........ God always talks about the bride and the bridegroom - as a mirror of our relationship with him. We are in Christ, and Christ in us - just as a husband and wife.<P>Interesting: In the Jewish custom of Jesus time, when there was to be a marriage, a bride and a groom - the groom - would go and build on an addition in his fathers house, and the bride would stay with her parents, keeping ready for that wedding day, of which she knew not when it would be. She was dressed, her lamp was trimmed, and she waited until the groom could get the addition done. When the addition was done, whether it was in the morning, or the middle of the night, or in the afternooon, he went for his bride.<P>In the same way, the Jewish marriage customs are meant to mirror how Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us (we are the bride), and we are to be ready for his return, for when he takes us to that place in his father's house. <P>Well, in the same way that we are one flesh with our spouses, we are one with the Lord. To understand how God view marriage, is to understand how he view our relationship as a church to God. <P>The church is PERMANENTLY a bride to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are permanently in our marriages, as well.<P>

I really don't see how one flesh has anything to do with sex. In the olden times, whether or not sex had taken place (as in Joseph and Mary), you are married when you are engaged, before the "consumation" day. So, clearly the scripture is NOT referring to sex, but the covenant.<P>That is why the COVENANT is everything, and the sex of adultery is not.<P>Make sense?<BR>

You see, Joseph could have divorced Mary, even though they had not had sex. (Mary was pregnant with Jesus, the Lord's child). <P>God never intended for divorce, but understood (even though he didn't approve) that our hearts would become hardened. That is the only reason he allowed divorce. He never intended marriage to end by divorce, but he intended marriage to be permanent.<P>Just, as his promise to us was permanent, so is our promise to our spouse permanent.

I got this in the mail today, so I copied and pasted it for you. Maybe the "flesh" in some ways talks about sex. I still think it is more about covenant.<P>here it is:<P>VERSE:<BR> For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be<BR>united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.<BR> -- Genesis 2:24, New International Version<BR> <http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Genesis+2:24><P>THOUGHT:<BR> We are different! God makes us male and female so we can be<BR>complements of each other. Each is made in God's image. God's<BR>intention is that a husband and wife's primary human relationship<BR>is with the other. They still honor their parents, but their home<BR>is with each other. Their two lives become one. In this context<BR>of lifetime security, they share in the intimate knowledge of each<BR>other sexually -- becoming "one flesh." This relationship is to be<BR>enjoyed (Proverbs 5), protected (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8), and<BR>celebrated (Song of Solomon) for life (Matthew 19:6). <P>PRAYER:<BR> Holy and Almighty Father, please bless me with strength to live<BR>in today's sexually charged world with integrity and purity.<BR>Please use your Spirit and your Word to instruct, correct, and<BR>convict me as I seek to discover your truth for my relationships<BR>and celebrate your will for my sexuality. In Jesus' name I pray.<BR>Amen.<P>***********************************************<BR>Today's Verse is brought to you by HEARTLIGHT <BR>Magazine, the Web's leading Christian living ezine. <A HREF="http://www.heartlight.org" TARGET=_blank>http://www.heartlight.org</A> <P>