What are the connotations of' "ve'ha'Adam Yada es Chavah Ishto"?
Rashi: It means that Adam was intimate with Chavah. In fact, Rashi explains, the verb "Yada", as opposed to "va'Yeida", means that he had been intimate already (she became pregnant and gave birth already before their sin.)
Targum Yonasan: He realized, when he saw that Kayin did not resemble him, that he was not his father, but that the snake (Sama'el) had desired her 1 and been intimate with her.
See Rashi in Bereishis 3:1.
When did Adam and Chavah conceive and give birth to Kayin?
Rashi: Already on the first day that he was created - before he sinned and was expelled from Gan Eden, as implied by the words "ve'ha'Adam Yada ...." 1
Gur Aryeh: Because the conjunctive letter 'Vav' of "ve'ha'Adam" connects this section to the preceding one; and the verb "Yada" is in the past tense; thus placing this event of Adam and Chavah conceiving and having children, earlier in time. Also see Mizrachi.
Why are marital relations referred to by the Torah as "Yedi'ah" (lit. "knowing")?
Maharal #1 (Chidushei Agados Vol. 4. p. 155, to Nidah 17a): The essential example of connection is the Sechel, intellect (which is the synthesis of knowledge and reasoning). Therefore, the intense bond of the marital union is called "knowing;" i.e. connection at the level of Sechel. However, this is only true for someone who has first attained Sechel, i.e. a Talmid Chacham.
Maharal #2 (Nesivos Olam, Nesiv ha'Torah, Ch. 15, p. 65): The marital union of a Torah scholar is called "Yedi'ah," because it is about connection on an equal plane. In contrast, that of an Am ha'Aretz is called Derisah (mauling); 1 it is purely bodily without balance or connection.
Pesachim 49b.
What are the connotations of "Kanisi Ish es Hashem"?
Rashi: It means 'I acquired a man with Hashem' - When Hashem created her and her husband, He alone created them, but now, through Kayin, they became partners (in creation) with Him'. 1
Ramban: It means 'I acquired a man on behalf of Hashem' - because after she and Adam died, their son would stand in their place to serve His Creator.
Targum Yonasan: It means 'I acquired an angel of Hashem as a husband'. 2
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "... even prior to the preceding episode (of the sin and expulsion)." But according to Rashi, we already know that Adam and Chavah engaged in intimacy while still in Gan Eden (Rashi to 2:25 - 3:1)?
Gur Aryeh: Our verse comes to add that the relations from which she conceived also took place before the expulsion from Gan Eden.
Rashi writes: "Kayin - named due to [her exclamation], "I created (Kanisi) a man with Hashem!" If so, he should have been named Kani, or Kan?
Gur Aryeh: Letters often change position to form a name; 1 here the Yud moves from the end to before the Nun.
Mizrachi; Gur Aryeh: Other examples in Tanach include the names Shmuel, Ya'avetz, Reuven.
Rashi writes: "The word Es always comes to include [something]..." Why are the twin sisters specifically referred to with the word "Es"?
Gur Aryeh: "Es" comes to include a Tafel (subdivision) along with an Ikar (main component). 1 The word is appropriate for a woman, who is Tafel to her husband.
Rashi writes: "Two sisters were born along with Hevel." Why?
Gur Aryeh: Kayin had one twin, and Hevel had two; this brought the total number of people up to 7. This matches the seven days of Creation. The 3 males and 3 females correspond to the six days of the week; 1 while the extra sister born along with Hevel corresponds to Shabbos.
Gur Aryeh: According to Chazal (Bereishis Rabah 11:8), the six days of the week each found a mate; leaving only Shabbos, who would ultimately be matched with Bnei Yisrael. (Shabbos is usually referred to in the feminine.) Also see Maharal (Tif'eres Yisrael Ch. 40, p. 125).
