153. The rib is said to be “built into a woman” but it is not said that the woman was “created” or “formed” or “made” as before when treating of regeneration. The reason of this is that to “build” is to raise up that which has fallen; and in this sense it is used in the Word, where to “build” is predicated of evils; to “raise up” of falsities; and to “renew” of both; as in Isaiah:

They shall build the wastes of eternity, they shall set up again the ancient desolations, and they shall renew the cities of the waste, the desolations of generation and generation (Isaiah 61:4).

“Wastes” in this and other passages signify evils; “desolations” falsities; to “build” is applied to the former, to “set up again” to the latter, and this distinction is carefully observed in other places by the prophets, as where it is said in Jeremiah: Yet still will I build thee, and thou shall be built, O virgin of Israel (Jeremiah 31:4).