Genesis 3:16 kjv

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Genesis 3:16 nkjv

To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."

Genesis 3:16 niv

To the woman he said, "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

Genesis 3:16 esv

To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you."

Genesis 3:16 nlt

Then he said to the woman, "I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband,
but he will rule over you. "

Genesis 3 verses

Genesis 3 16 Meaning

Genesis 3:16 describes God's judicial declaration to the woman, Eve, as a consequence of her disobedience in the Garden of Eden. It pronounces two primary results of the Fall for her: a profound increase in pain and sorrow associated with childbearing, and a dramatic shift in her relationship with her husband, where her "desire" (a complex term often interpreted as a struggle for control or strong yearning) would be directed towards him, while he would rule over her. This verse signifies a disruption of the pre-Fall harmony in procreation and relational dynamics within marriage.

Genesis 3 16 Context

Genesis 3:16 is part of God's direct confrontation and judgment sequence immediately following the transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Having partaken of the forbidden fruit, they are now exposed and fear God's presence. God first questions them, revealing their sin and passing judgment. The pronouncements begin with the serpent (Gen 3:14-15), then move to the woman (Gen 3:16), and finally to the man and the ground (Gen 3:17-19). This verse directly addresses the woman, detailing consequences specific to her biological and relational nature. It explains the origin of pain in childbirth and introduces a dynamic of struggle and headship into the husband-wife relationship that was not present in the original state of harmony. It sets the stage for a fallen world where life-giving acts are accompanied by pain, and relationships are marred by a power dynamic.

Genesis 3 16 Word analysis

• To the woman (אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה – el-ha'ishshah): A direct address, highlighting that the judgment applies specifically to the female. This follows a specific address to the serpent and precedes one for the man.
• He said: Indicates God's divine pronouncement, a judicial sentence.
• I will surely multiply (הַרְבָּה אַרְבֶּה – harbah arbitbah): This is a Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute construction ("multiply, I will multiply"), conveying absolute certainty and a significant, intensified increase. It means not just "multiply," but "greatly increase" or "multiply and multiply."
• your pain (עִצְּבוֹנֵךְ – ‘its'vonēkh): From the root ‘etsev (עֶצֶב), meaning "pain," "toil," "sorrow," "grief." This is the same root used for the man's "painful toil" (‘itstsavon) in Gen 3:17, linking the suffering of both genders through this common theme, but applying it to different spheres of life. It implies more than just physical pain, but also the deep emotional and psychological distress associated with the labor.
• in childbearing (וְהֵרֹנֵךְ – w'heronekh): Lit. "your conception" or "your pregnancy." The pain is tied directly to the entire process of conceiving and carrying a child, not just the moment of birth. It encompasses the period of gestation and its accompanying hardships.
• in pain (בְּעֶצֶב – bə‘etsev): Reiteration of the ‘etsev root, emphasizing that the act of giving birth itself will be characterized by sorrowful toil and suffering.
• you shall bring forth children (תֵּלְדִי בָנִים – teldī vānīm): This describes the physical act of giving birth. Despite the pronounced pain, the mandate to "be fruitful" (Gen 1:28) continues to operate, though now within the context of suffering.
• Your desire (תְּשׁוּקָתֵךְ – teshuqāthekh): This is a key, complex Hebrew word (teshuqah), appearing only three times in the Old Testament: here, Gen 4:7 ("sin's desire is for you"), and Song of Sol 7:10 ("his desire is for me"). Its parallel in Gen 4:7, where sin "desires" to master Cain, strongly suggests that the woman's "desire" here is a problematic urge towards her husband, possibly an impulse to control or master him, reflecting the disruption of harmonious relationships due to sin.
• shall be for your husband (אֶל־אִישֵׁךְ – el-'ishēkh): The target of this complex "desire" is specifically directed toward her spouse.
• and he shall rule over you (וְהוּא יִמְשָׁל־בָּךְ – wəhū' yimshāl-bākh): From the root mashal (מָשַׁל), meaning "to rule," "to reign," "to govern." This is God's decree regarding the marital relationship. In light of the likely meaning of "teshuqah" as a desire to control, "he shall rule over you" becomes God's established order to counter her misplaced desire for mastery. This does not describe ideal headship (e.g., as defined in Eph 5), but rather a ruling that would take place in a fallen world, susceptible to abuse and struggle, yet establishing an order to maintain function within the marriage.

Genesis 3 16 Bonus section

• The dual pronouncements in Gen 3:16 on childbearing and relational dynamics emphasize how the Fall disrupted the core aspects of womanhood as established in creation: her role in life-giving and her relationship with man. The specific nature of these consequences reveals God's precision in judgment, targeting the areas most affected by her direct participation in the temptation.
• The Hebrew word teshuqah is a powerful, rare term. Its use in Gen 4:7 ("sin's desire is for you, but you must rule over it") provides a vital interpretive key for Gen 3:16. If "sin's desire" is to overcome and dominate Cain, then the woman's "desire" for her husband might likewise be a desire to dominate or control, or a perverse attraction that leads her astray from a God-ordained role. God's response ("he shall rule over you") then serves as a counter-balance or re-establishment of a particular order in the marriage, post-Fall, though it becomes a place of struggle rather than simple, harmonious partnership.
• While the verse describes the negative impact of the Fall on childbearing and marriage, it is crucial to remember that it is immediately preceded by the Protoevangelium (Gen 3:15), the first promise of a redeemer who would crush the serpent's head. This context means that even amidst the painful consequences, there is an overarching promise of future redemption and the eventual triumph over sin and its effects.
• The New Testament, particularly in Paul's letters (e.g., 1 Tim 2:11-14; Eph 5:22-33), often grounds its teaching on gender roles and the marriage relationship in the Genesis creation and Fall accounts. It sees the post-Fall ruling dynamic as part of the reason for distinct roles, yet then redefines husbandly "rule" within the framework of Christ's servant-leadership and love, transcending the brokenness inherent in the original curse. Thus, while the verse points to the curse, Christian redemption offers a transformed way to live within its parameters, guided by Christ.

Genesis 3 16 Commentary

Genesis 3:16 reveals two profound consequences of the Fall specifically for the woman, both deeply interwoven with her created essence and relational sphere. First, God pronounces an intensification of pain in childbearing. The original act of procreation, intended as a blessing, becomes intrinsically linked with intensified ‘etsev, sorrowful toil and suffering, extending beyond mere physical pain to the deep distress associated with conception and childbirth. This curse ensures that one of the most fundamental life-giving acts, unique to the woman, will carry the enduring mark of the Fall.

Second, and perhaps more controversially, the verse addresses the woman's relationship with her husband. Her "desire" (teshuqah), as paralleled in Gen 4:7 where sin desires to master Cain, is seen by many scholars as an inclination towards asserting control or vying for position with her husband. In response to this inclination (whether conscious or subconscious), God states, "he shall rule over you." This is not necessarily a prescription for ideal marriage, but rather a descriptive statement of the new, fallen reality where a hierarchical structure and potential for domination (or a struggle against it) would replace the pre-Fall harmony and partnership. This divine pronouncement, while a consequence of sin, also establishes a certain order in a broken world. The Bible later provides principles for redeeming this fallen dynamic, guiding husbands to rule with selfless love, and wives to respond with willing submission (e.g., Eph 5:22-33), thereby transforming the consequence of the fall into a path for Christ-honoring relationships. This verse fundamentally highlights the pervasive impact of sin on all aspects of human existence, including the most intimate and sacred.