The Complete Jewish Bible

Gen 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you."

It has been suggested that, "Your desire will be toward your husband ", could be rendered as, "Your desire will be to rule over your husband", this appears to be confirmed by, "but he will rule over you."

Your comments please.

Thank you.

Edwin.

That is the interpretation I have always been told as well and I can see it as being true when you look at the feminist movement.

I interpret it that way too. I read a really good book once that had a section on Eve's curse, and would talk about the inner struggle of a Christian wife's desire for both dominance and submission as 'Eve's struggle'. I can really identify with that.

I can see it as being true when you look at the feminist movement.

I agree. I think women have always secretly wanted to rule over men, but have never been given enough authority to....maybe a good thing. But now that women and men have equal rights, it is happening more and more.

Thank you ladies for all three inputs above.

Let me now deal with, "but he will rule over you."

Some might see this as the Lord's intention for Eve, but I do not see it this way, what I think He is really saying is, "Unfortunately this is what is going to happen as a result of the fall",

The Lord would prefer men to behave towards their wives as,

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Eph 5:28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself

Eph 5:31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [fn]

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife [see] that she respects [her] husband.

1Pe 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with [them] with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as [being] heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Gen 2:18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone:

When the Lord God made Adam He endowed him with certain of, but not all of the Divine qualities. When He made Eve He endowed her with the remainder of the Divine qualities, His intention being that when they came together as, "one flesh", that each half of this new union would complement the other, they would be able to help each other, the Lord's intention being that this new union would have all of the Divine qualities.

The expression, "one flesh", although including sexual union, clearly means a great deal more than that.

Different, yes, but not un equal, the woman is complementary to the man, she is neither superior, nor inferior, she is his equal, it is God's intention that each should put the other first, and endeavor to behave towards each other as,

1Cr 13:4 Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
1Cr 13:5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
1Cr 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
1Cr 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Read Gal Ch 3 v 28. "There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus".

Note "you" in this sentence is a plural noun.

In Gen Ch 2 v 18, she is described (In my English Standard Version) as "a helper fit for him", there is a foot note against the word, "for", indicating that it could be rendered as, "corresponding to", also in v 20.

Every blessing to you.

Edwin.

what I think He is really saying is, "Unfortunately this is what is going to happen as a result of the fall",

I think this too. I think it boils down to pride. Women don't want to be ruled over by their men.

I have found a verse that helped me understand the whole rule over/one better than the other is 1st Corinthians 11:3 "Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." Christ and God are equal! He isn't saying because one is the head that they are any "better". I don't feel having one gender be the head over the other is saying they are "more equal", I do feel that the fall created the need for an "order".

I hope that makes sense.

Thank you bugsmom for your post in which you say,

"He isn't saying because one is the head that they are any "better". I don't feel having one gender be the head over the other is saying they are "more equal", I do feel that the fall created the need for an "order".

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I am not sure just what you mean by, "more equal"

Let me ask you a question.

In your opinion does it matter which gender is the head, or do you think it should be neither?

Thank you.

Edwin.

I am not sure just what you mean by, "more equal"

Let me ask you a question.

In your opinion does it matter which gender is the head, or do you think it should be neither?

Thank you.

Edwin.

Sorry I was refering to Squealer in Animal Farm when he says "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

I beleave the Bible is very clear that the man/male is the head.

1 Corinthians 11:3
Ephesians 5:23
Colossians 3:18
1 Peter 3:1-6


I know there are more I just don't want to look them all up right now!:)

Blessings

Wow I really killed that thread didn't I! Sorry!

Wow I really killed that thread didn't I! Sorry!

Hi bugsmom.

No I don't think you did, In fact I feel sure everything that could profitably be said on that subject has already been said.

Every blessing.

Edwin.

Sorry I was refering to Squealer in Animal Farm when he says "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

I beleave the Bible is very clear that the man/male is the head.

1 Corinthians 11:3
Ephesians 5:23
Colossians 3:18
1 Peter 3:1-6


I know there are more I just don't want to look them all up right now!:)

Blessings

Yes, it really is. Praise God.

Hi bugsmom.

No I don't think you did, In fact I feel sure everything that could profitably be said on that subject has already been said.

Every blessing.

Edwin.


Hi again bugsmom

Upon reflection it occurred to me that my last post may have given the impression that I did not include your previous comments.

However such is not the case, in fact the four Scripture verses you quoted are most appropriate.

The Lord bless you.

Edwin.