The Tru316 Insights into God’s words to the woman in Genesis 3:16 demonstrate that God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way. Namely, that:
- God took action in two ways in Line 1 of Genesis 3:16.
- That one of God’s two actions involved “sorrowful toil” (‘itsabon) for the woman in field work, as also for the man, because of the curse on the ground because of the man (3:17) and for all others after them (5:29).
- That the other of God’s two actions involved assuring her that the Seed of her “conception” (heron) indeed would crush the serpent tempter’s head (3:15).
- The 3 remaining Lines in 3:16 contained no further actions but instructed her as to
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- Line 2: grief (‘etseb) in parenting her many children.
- Line 3: observation that her affection (desire) for her husband was there.
- Line 4: warning that his desire had changed with his rebellion against God.
The impact on related New Testament passages includes the following:
- Those who mistranslate and misinterpret Genesis 3:16 wrongly make it look like the woman was singled out for special punishment and that this punishment was deserved for actions on her part. When New Testament passages related to Genesis 3 are analyzed through these warped optics they negatively skew any analysis.
- Those with incorrect views on Eve assume woman was subordinated by God in Eden and all women are subordinated in the family and the church as well.
- They attribute flawed moral fiber to Eve and all her daughters and class her in a category with the serpent tempter who must be restricted and restrained from doing additional evil.
- They presume to see an “order in creation” that relegates women to a second level of ministry and authority. There is no such “order” in the chapters of Genesis 1-3. Instead, there is the distinction drawn between how the man and the woman partook of the forbidden fruit. The man did so on purpose. The woman did not. The man received a curse for his rebellious first-degree eating. He was also addressed in a way parallel to the serpent tempter. The woman was treated in a distinctively different way. She received a promise and a confirmation for her alignment against the tempter.
Pagan ancient philosophers preached starkly negative views on women. Echoes of these views haunt the statements of those who attribute something like a curse on Eve when they mistranslate Genesis 3:16 and speak of God imposing multiplied pain in childbirth and subjugation to her husband. The Tru316 analysis of the Hebrew and Greek texts reveal positive and empowering statements on women and men together with God.
The differences between the two views are stark. And so is their fruit. We plead for a more serious adoption of the Tru316 insights into the key passages on women and men. And a commitment to their wider adoption and spread.
by Bruce C. E. Fleming, DEA (Tru316.com)
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