‘And the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.'
The man recognises that God has shown mercy to him and that, in spite of all, life will therefore go on. And by revealing his willingness to carry out God's command to ‘be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:28), he is making a statement of faith. ‘The man called his wife's name ‘Chawwa' (‘life' - ch as in loch) because she is to be the mother of all who will live' (‘chay'). Suddenly tragedy has been tempered by hope. All is not yet lost. Although they have lost everlasting life, they will live on in their children.
But the change of name also reflects the change in situation. She has previously been ‘woman' in relation to ‘man', the suggestion of an idyllic relationship, now she becomes the ‘life' bearer who through pain and anguish will produce children. The renaming further stresses the woman's new relationship to the man, ‘your desire will be to your husband and he will rule over you'. By renaming her the man is exerting his new authority. She is now not just subordinate, but in subjection.