if I were eve

Eve (awwah) is most likely derived from a root that means "to live." She is the "mother of all living," according to the folk etymology that follows the introduction of her name in Genesis (3:20). As the first woman, Eve symbolizes the crucial life-giving maternal role that women play, and her name is rife with symbolism that describes her archetypal role. Although Eve is portrayed negatively in post-biblical tradition, feminist biblical scholarship has recently reclaimed her as an archetypal figure who represents the social and economic roles of Israelite women.