Limping side

The Hebrew of Genesis 2:21 reads:

   וַיִּתֵּן יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל-אָדָם וַיֵּשֶׁן וַיִּקַּח אֶחָד מִצַּלְעֹתָיו וַיִּסֶּג בָּשָׂר תַּחְתֶּנּוּ

Transliteration:

   "Vayiten Yahweh Elohim tardemah al-Adam vayeshan vayikach echad mi-tsal'otav vayis'eg basar tachtenu."

A standard translation would be:

   "So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place."

Alternate Translation as a Riddle Concerning Christ:

In a riddle concerning Christ, we can interpret the passage in a way that reflects the death and the wounding of Christ. Here's an alternate translation that plays with the imagery:

   "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the Man, and He slept; and from His side He took a portion, and His flesh was pierced to bring forth life for His bride."

Explanation of the Riddle:

   "Deep sleep": This can be understood as a symbolic death, similar to how Jesus was "asleep" in death (Mark 4:38, John 11:11) before being resurrected.

   "Took a portion from His side": The side of Adam from which God took the rib can be seen as a symbol of the piercing of Christ's side when He was crucified (John 19:34). From this piercing, the bride (the Church) is born, just as Eve was created from Adam’s side.

   "Pierced to bring forth life for His bride": Just as Eve came forth from Adam's side to be his bride, the Church (Christ’s bride) is brought forth through the piercing of Christ’s side. His death (the "wounding" on the cross) brings forth life for His people, just as Eve's creation brought life to Adam’s existence.

The Symbolism:

   The "deep sleep" mirrors Christ's death.
   The "rib" or "portion" taken from His side foreshadows the piercing of Christ’s side.
   The "bride" (Eve in the Garden, the Church today) is created through the wounding of Christ, symbolizing the Church's redemption through Christ's sacrifice.

Thus, Genesis 2:21 is a riddle pointing to Christ's sacrifice, where the first "sleep" (Adam’s deep sleep) foreshadows Christ’s death, and from His wounded side comes life for the Church, His bride.

In the riddle of the rib (or limping), the idea of limping ties directly to the concept of suffering and weakness, which are central to the portrayal of Christ in the Bible, especially in His journey to the cross and the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Hebrew word for rib (צֵלַע, tsela), indeed also carries the meaning of limping or being maimed. In the context of Genesis 2:21, where God takes the "rib" of Adam, it could symbolize Christ's suffering and limping nature as He endures the agonies of the cross and the spiritual weight leading up to it, including His time in Gethsemane. Christ Himself, although innocent, endured suffering and limping for the sake of His bride, the Church. This idea of limping can be seen in several Christ types in the Bible who, through their struggles or weaknesses, point to Christ’s ultimate suffering. Christ Types Who Limp:

   Jacob (Israel) - The classic example of a limping figure in the Old Testament is Jacob, who wrestles with a man (who is understood to be God or an angel) in Genesis 32:24-32. After the struggle, Jacob is left limping due to a touch on his hip. This limp serves as a reminder of his encounter with God, and in the same way, Christ limps toward the cross, carrying the weight of sin and the curse of the world.

   Genesis 32:31:

       "The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip."

   Sensus Plenior: Jacob’s limp represents Christ’s suffering, particularly His struggle in Gethsemane, where He faces the weight of sin and the will of the Father. Just as Jacob was left limping after his struggle with God, Christ limps toward His crucifixion after His struggle with His own will in Gethsemane.

   Moses - Moses, the great deliverer of Israel, also experienced weakness and limping in his calling. After being called by God at the burning bush (Exodus 3), Moses hesitated and questioned God, expressing his inability and inadequacy. In Exodus 4:10, Moses says:

       "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

   Moses' hesitance to lead and his sense of inadequacy echo the same limping spirit of Christ who, in His humanity, struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane with the enormity of the task before Him. Though fully willing to submit to the Father’s will, Christ experiences emotional and spiritual limping under the weight of what is to come.

   David - King David also experienced moments of limping through his struggles. In 2 Samuel 4:4, David’s son Mephibosheth was crippled in both legs due to a fall, symbolizing a deep sense of brokenness. David's own journey, especially in his fleeing from Saul, is full of moments of vulnerability and suffering, as seen in his lamentations and the psalms he wrote. David’s physical and emotional suffering foreshadows Christ’s limping walk to the cross.

   Isaiah's Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) - In Isaiah 53, the suffering servant is described as one who is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. This passage describes how Christ, though innocent, would suffer for the sins of humanity and would bear their pain. The "limping" of this servant can be seen metaphorically in the way that He was rejected, mocked, and physically beaten leading up to the cross.

   Isaiah 53:3:

       "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem."

   Jesus in Gethsemane - The most direct example of limping as a Christ-type can be found in Jesus' own experience in Gethsemane. There, He struggles in prayer, torn between His divine will and His human fear and sorrow. Christ, fully knowing what lay ahead, limps emotionally and spiritually, praying to the Father, asking if there is any other way for salvation to come but through His death.

   Matthew 26:39:

       "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"

Connecting with the Tree (Cross)

All of these limping figures, through their struggles, anticipate Christ’s ultimate act of limping through the physical and spiritual anguish of the cross. The limping in these types foreshadows the brokenness and suffering Christ would endure for the sake of His bride (the Church). The limping of Christ ultimately leads to resurrection and life, just as Jacob's limp (a sign of God's wrestling with him) eventually led to a transformation and blessing.

The limping of Christ is, in this riddle, not a deficiency, but a necessary process of suffering that brings about the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Christ's limping leads to His death, which in turn leads to the salvation of the Church, just as Jacob’s limp was a result of God's wrestling with him to bring about a blessing. Conclusion: Christ's Limping

In this way, Christ limps toward His sacrifice, and just as those before Him limped in their journeys—bearing the weight of God’s call on their lives—Christ limps toward His cross, broken and pierced for the bride He loves. This limp is not weakness but the path of victory through suffering, ultimately fulfilling God's redemptive plan.

In the context of Christ’s limping, we must shift the focus from a physical limp to one that signifies the struggle between His divine and human natures, a struggle that culminates in His obedience and ultimate submission to the Father’s will. The concept of Christ’s limping in this sense is deeply tied to His dual nature—fully God and fully man—and the internal conflict He faced as He walked toward the cross. This internal "limping" was not physical weakness but a spiritual and emotional struggle. Christ's Dual Nature and the "Limping" Struggle

Christ’s limping can be understood as His fleshly reluctance to face death, even though His divine nature knew it was necessary for the redemption of mankind. The term "limping" here refers to the weakness of the flesh, which resisted the brutal pain of death, while His divine nature was committed to the will of the Father. 1. The Flesh in Gethsemane:

In Gethsemane, Christ's human nature recoiled at the prospect of suffering. He asked the Father if there was any other way to accomplish salvation. This moment of prayer represents the limping of His flesh—His human will that struggled against the overwhelming burden of sin and death.

   Matthew 26:39:

       "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"

In this moment, the struggle between the divine and the human within Christ is palpable. His flesh recoiled in fear and pain, but His divine nature remained resolute in submission to the Father. The "limping" here is not a physical limp but the emotional and spiritual tension within Christ as He prepared for His sacrifice. 2. Christ’s Obedience through "Limping":

Despite the reluctance of His flesh, Christ’s divine nature always sought to do the will of the Father. The limping represents the tension between these two natures—the human nature that feared the agony of the cross and the divine nature that was perfectly obedient to the will of God. It is through this limping that Christ submits Himself to death, illustrating the obedience of the Son, even in His weakness.

   Philippians 2:8:

       "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"

This moment of limping, therefore, was not weakness in the usual sense but rather a necessary submission of Christ’s human nature to the divine will. The limping is the spiritual struggle of Christ’s humanity facing the reality of death, but it is also the path to His ultimate victory through obedience. 3. The Role of the Cross:

The cross serves as the final resolution of this internal "limping" struggle. Christ’s obedience in the face of human weakness (the limping) ultimately results in victory through the cross. His humanity limped toward death, but His divinity drove Him to overcome it. The cross becomes the culmination of Christ’s obedience, and in it, Christ conquers sin and death, fulfilling the Father’s will.

   Hebrews 5:8:

       "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered."

Christ’s limping is not defeat but a riddle of victory—through His human struggle, He fulfilled the divine plan of redemption. 4. Christ’s Submission as the Way of Victory:

Thus, the limping represents the inner conflict Christ faced, where His flesh resisted the path of suffering, but His divine will drove Him toward it. It is this submission to divine will despite human fear and weakness that defines Christ’s obedience and ultimately secures His victory. The "limping" reveals the sacrifice of Christ, where His humanity is broken but His divinity is triumphant.

   Luke 22:42:

       "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Conclusion: Christ's Limping as Obedient Submission

In conclusion, Christ’s limping is a spiritual riddle that speaks of His human struggle against the pain of death and the fear of suffering, but ultimately, it is a riddle of obedience. His flesh limped toward the cross, yet His divine nature guided Him to fulfill the will of the Father. The limping was not a sign of weakness, but of the necessary obedience Christ displayed in His humanity, which culminated in His victorious sacrifice on the cross, where He conquered death and sin for all who believe.