What does Genesis 3:16 say? Reason for the Tru316 Project! by Bruce C. E. Fleming
Some facts on the ground
Soon after we arrived in Africa we learned of a young woman who was taking a long time to deliver her first child. Local women rubbed hot peppers into her eyes to punish her for “refusing to deliver her baby for her husband. Besides, she’s supposed to suffer pain in childbirth as our Bible says,” they stated! This is so sad! In other places men rule over their wives “because Genesis 3:16 says so.” This is sad too! The true Genesis 3:16 says neither of these things in the original Hebrew language!
The problem
Most Bible versions have opted to translate the opening line of the verse as if a grammatical pattern called a “hendiadys” were present. This leads them to say that God virtually cursed the woman with “pain-in-childbirth.” Translators then carry over this negative idea into the next line of the verse and then to its end. They say having children will necessarily be “painful.” They continue with their negative view of the woman and imply that she had evil “desire” that merited being “ruled over” by her husband. What a sorry story!
The guide
Dr. Joy Fleming spent seven years in advanced research uncovering the original meaning of this verse in the Hebrew language in which it was written. Her original work received highest honors in France and is praised by American scholars as well. More? www.Genesis316.com
The solution
Dr. Fleming found that God promised the woman she would experience “sorrowful-toil” (or ‘itsabon, in Hebrew, the first of the two words in the linchpin) from the impact of God’s curse on the ground that was made because of the man, recorded in verse 17. And, God promised her “conception” (or heron, in Hebrew, the second of the two words in the linchpin) of Offspring who would crush the head of her serpent-tempter.
The plan
The TWO words of the linchpin must be clearly translated in line one of Genesis 3:16 – not hidden! Not only must translations be corrected to include them in all Bible versions in English and other languages, but theological interpretations based on what God said to the woman must be updated as well.
The outcome
God’s words to the woman, correctly translated, show the grace and plan of God regarding the woman. She received the Promise! She was to be the ancestor of the Messiah. Like the man she would experience increased sorrow working the cursed ground. And as a mortal she would experience effort in childbirth. Her loving desire for the man had not gone away but her sinful husband would seek to rule over her.
Is this outcome in harmony with good theology? Yes, and it is good theology.
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