Moses writes in Genesis 2:24 that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, becoming one flesh. The Hebrew word underlying "be joined to" is *dabaq* (H1692), which means to cling or adhere to. Modern translations render it as be joined to, cling to, hold fast to, unite with, bond with, or stick with, suggesting that the couple are stuck like glue to each other. This illustrates God's intention that the joint between a married couple should be so strong that, if trouble arises, the union will survive, emphasizing the enduring bond He desires for marriage.

The Hebrew word *dabaq* (H1692), found in Genesis 2:24, carries the meaning of to glue together, to cleave, or to adhere. It describes the profound bond formed between a man and his wife as they become one flesh, emphasizing a union that is as inseparable as if they were glued together. This concept parallels the Greek word *kolláo* used by Paul in I Corinthians 6:16, illustrating that just as conjugal relations bind a couple like glue, so too does an illicit act unite participants as one flesh, highlighting the deep and binding nature of such intimacy.

God's purpose for marriage, as seen in Genesis 2:24, emphasizes the importance of being joined or cleaving to one another. The Hebrew term dabaq (H1692), underlying this concept, is a strong word that literally conveys two being held together by force, as in capturing another. Figuratively, it suggests being glued together through positive family care, portraying a bond of consistent, sacrificial loyalty and devotion in a marriage-and-family context. This is illustrated in Ruth 1:14, where Ruth clung (dabaq) to Naomi, choosing to remain with her and accompany her to Judea, unlike Orpah who distanced herself. God seeks from each marriage partner a voluntary, sacrificial giving of themselves in loyalty, devotion, and affection to produce oneness, reflecting the kind of unity He desires in both physical and spiritual relationships.