The Hebrew word we translate into the English word “rib” is the word tsela. In other passages where tsela or its variants are used it usually is translated into the English word “side.” In the book of Exodus, also written by Moses, the words tselo (a variant) and tselot (plural) are used to refer to the equal “sides” of the ark of the covenant. The word is also used for the “sides” of the altar—in both cases meaning the equal and opposite sides of the object.
