Do Men Have One Less Rib Than Women?

A folk theology is a belief or doctrine you are either taught growing up or hear through culture in radio, music, or movies. These doctrines are rarely correct, and at times can even be severely problematic. In this article, we’re going to explore a very common folk theology concerning the creation of man.

In Genesis, we read: “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:21-22

This text is often used to teach that men have one less rib than women.

One need only count your ribs or get a chest x-ray to see that is not the case, but incredibly, this folk theology continues to be alive and well today. Scientifically, men and women both have 12 pairs of ribs. (Some people may have 11 or 13 pair in rare cases.) [Source]

Think about it this way. Let’s say you are a man who has surgery, and it requires the removal of not only a couple of your ribs, but also your spleen. You heal and go on to marry and have several children. Will your male children have two fewer ribs and no spleen? Of course not!

Instead of following such folk theologies, I instead point you to a beautiful quote by Matthew Henry, the great Biblical commentator, on the passage from Genesis:

“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible