For this reasonThis phrase indicates a foundational principle established by God at the creation of humanity. It points back to the preceding verses where God creates woman from man, establishing the basis for marriage. This principle is timeless and serves as the divine blueprint for marriage.
a man will leave his father and mother
In ancient Near Eastern culture, family units were typically extended, with multiple generations living together. The instruction for a man to leave his parents signifies the establishment of a new, independent family unit. This departure is not merely physical but involves a shift in loyalty and priority, emphasizing the importance of the marital relationship over the parental one.
and be united to his wife
The Hebrew word for "united" implies a strong, enduring bond. This union is not just a legal or social contract but a deep, personal commitment. The concept of being united reflects the covenant nature of marriage, which is a sacred and binding agreement before God. This unity is echoed in the New Testament, where marriage is likened to the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32).
and they will become one flesh
This phrase signifies the physical, emotional, and spiritual union of husband and wife. It encompasses the sexual relationship but also extends to a complete sharing of life. The "one flesh" concept is foundational for understanding the exclusivity and permanence of marriage. It is a mystery that reflects the unity and diversity within the Godhead, as well as the unity between Christ and believers. Jesus references this passage inMatthew 19:5-6, affirming its continued relevance and divine origin.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Adam and EveThe first man and woman created by God, representing the original human couple and the foundation of marriage.
2.
Garden of EdenThe setting for the creation of Adam and Eve, symbolizing the ideal environment for human relationships.
3.
MarriageThe institution established by God as a covenantal union between a man and a woman, as exemplified by Adam and Eve.
Teaching Points
The Divine Design of MarriageMarriage is a divine institution established by God, intended to reflect His covenantal love and faithfulness.
Leaving and CleavingThe call to "leave" one's parents signifies the establishment of a new, primary family unit, while "cleaving" emphasizes the commitment and unity required in marriage.
Unity and OnenessThe concept of becoming "one flesh" highlights the deep, intimate bond that marriage creates, encompassing physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
Marriage as a Reflection of Christ and the ChurchJust as Christ is united with the Church, marriage serves as a living illustration of this sacred relationship, calling spouses to love and serve one another selflessly.
Guarding the Sanctity of MarriageIn a world that often devalues marriage, believers are called to uphold its sanctity, recognizing it as a holy covenant before God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 2:24?
2.How does Genesis 2:24 define the foundation of a biblical marriage?
3.What does "leave his father and mother" imply about marital priorities?
4.How does "be united to his wife" reflect Christ's relationship with the Church?
5.In what ways can couples practically "become one flesh" in daily life?
6.How can understanding Genesis 2:24 strengthen commitment in Christian marriages today?
7.How does Genesis 2:24 define the concept of marriage in a biblical context?
8.Why does Genesis 2:24 emphasize leaving parents to form a new family unit?
9.How does Genesis 2:24 influence Christian views on the permanence of marriage?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 2?
11.What guidance does the Bible offer for difficult in-laws?
12.What does the Bible say about Empty Nest Syndrome?
13.What does the Bible say about mutual consent in marriage?
14.What does the Bible say about avoiding fornication?What Does Genesis 2:24 Mean
For this reasonGenesis 2:24 opens with, “For this reason.” The phrase looks back to the creation of woman from Adam’s side (Genesis 2:21-23) and points forward to the pattern God establishes for every future marriage.
• God Himself designed marriage; it is not a human invention (seeMatthew 19:4-6, where Jesus roots marriage in this verse).
• The verse draws a straight line from God’s creative act to how people are to relate within marriage today.
• Because the Creator instituted it, marriage carries His authority and blessing, echoingEcclesiastes 4:12, where “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
A man will leave his father and motherLeaving does not mean abandoning but stepping into adult responsibility.
• Priority shift: husband and wife now form the primary family unit (Ephesians 5:31).
• Emotional shift: loyalty, provision, and decision-making center on the spouse rather than parents (seeRuth 1:16-17 for a picture of covenant loyalty).
• Practical shift: new household, new leadership, yet honoring parents remains (Exodus 20:12).
• This “leaving” safeguards marriage from unhealthy interference, freeing the couple to grow together.
And be united to his wife“United” carries the idea of permanent bonding, cleaving inseparably.
• Covenant language: marriage is more than a contract; it is a lifelong promise (Malachi 2:14).
• Exclusivity: one man, one woman, no rivals (Proverbs 5:15-18).
• Commitment through all seasons: pictured in Songs 8:6, “love is as strong as death.”
• God’s glue: what He joins, no one should separate (Matthew 19:6).
And they will become one fleshThis is both physical and spiritual unity.
• Physical: the marital act consummates the covenant (1 Corinthians 7:2-5).
• Spiritual: shared life, goals, and faith (1 Peter 3:7 describes heirs together of grace).
• Relational: decisions, finances, worship, and future are intertwined (Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?”).
• One flesh reflects God’s image in a unique way, echoingGenesis 1:27’s creation of male and female.
summaryGenesis 2:24 lays out God’s timeless blueprint for marriage: because God created woman as man’s partner, a husband is to reprioritize his life, bond exclusively and permanently with his wife, and share a unity so deep they are described as one flesh. Jesus and Paul both reaffirm this pattern, underscoring its authority. Living it out brings stability, intimacy, and a testimony of God’s creative wisdom in every generation.
(24)
Therefore shall a man leave . . . --These are evidently the words of the narrator. Adam names this new product of creative power, as he had named others, but he knew nothing about young men leaving their father's house for the wife's sake. Moreover, in
Matthew 19:5, our Lord quotes these words as spoken by God, and the simplest interpretation of this declaration is that the inspired narrator was moved by the Spirit of God to give this solemn sanction to marriage, founded upon Adam's words. The great and primary object of this part of the narrative is to set forth marriage as a Divine ordinance. The narrator describes Adam's want, pictures him as examining all animal life, and studying the habits of all creatures so carefully as to be able to give them names, but as returning from his search unsatisfied. At last one is solemnly brought to him who is his counterpart, and he calls her
Ishah,his feminine self, and pronounces her to be his very bone and flesh. Upon this, "He who at the beginning made them male and female "pronounced the Divine marriage law that man and wife are
one flesh.Verse 24. -Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife. There is nothing in the use of such terms as father and mother, or in the fact that the sentiment is prophetic, to prevent the words from being regarded as a continuation of Adam's speech, although, on the other hand, the statement of Christ (Matthew 19:5) does not preclude the possibility of Moses being their author; but whether uttered by the first husband (Delitzsch, Macdonald) or by the historian (Calvin, Murphy), they must be viewed as an inspired declaration of the law of marriage.Its basis (fundamental reason and predisposing cause) they affirm to be(1) the original relationship of man and woman, on the platform of creation; and
(2) the marriage union effected between the first pair. Itsnature they explain to be
(1) a forsaking (on the part of the woman as well as the man) of father and mother - not filially, in respect of duty, but locally, in respect of habitation, and comparatively, in respect of affection; and . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
For
עַל־(‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, against
this reason
כֵּן֙(kên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651:So -- thus
a man
אִ֔ישׁ(’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male person
will leave
יַֽעֲזָב־(ya·‘ă·zāḇ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5800:To loosen, relinquish, permit
his father
אָבִ֖יו(’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1:Father
and
וְאֶת־(wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853:Untranslatable mark of the accusative case
his mother
אִמּ֑וֹ(’im·mōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517:A mother, )
and
וְהָי֖וּ(wə·hā·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, be
be united
וְדָבַ֣ק(wə·ḏā·ḇaq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1692:To impinge, cling, adhere, to catch by pursuit
to his wife,
בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ(bə·’iš·tōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, female
and they will become one
אֶחָֽד׃(’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259:United, one, first
flesh.
לְבָשָׂ֥ר(lə·ḇā·śār)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320:Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man
Links
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OT Law: Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man will leave his father (Gen. Ge Gn)
