The Origin and Consequence of Sin

Part 7

GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON THE WOMAN 3:16

To the woman God said, I will greatly multiply your pain, especially in your child-bearing; in pain you will bear children. And you will long for your husband, but he will rule over you.

It should be noted that unlike the serpent the woman was not cursed. Though not cursed, the woman does have to suffer the consequence of her sin as it relates specifically to her relationship with her husband and the bearing of children.

God said to the woman that He would greatly multiply her pain in childbearing. The Hiphil causative infinitive harbah (multiplying) and the Hiphil causative verb arbeh (to multiply) are used here showing that it is God who will cause the pain in childbirth to multiply.

The primitive Hebrew root for “pain” (atsab) can also have an emotional aspect or application, signifying “grief” or “exasperation”.

Thus, in addition to physical pain, it may represent the emotional pain associated with the notion of a child born in rebellion against God; a child born to die and spiritually separated from God from the womb.

The second part of God’s judgment on the woman would be a change in her relationship with her husband: And you will long for your husband, but he will rule over you.

The woman will have an excessive desire and determination to dominate her husband. The man, however, must take loving headship over her. Thus this verse describes the ongoing struggle in the marriage relationships which will exist after the Fall.

It was a reversal of God’s design for marriage that led to the fall in the garden. It was Eve who led and Adam who followed in the garden episode. Adam, for his part, let the woman lead and refused to take his God-given leadership role.

As a result of the fall, it would be common for women to take the leadership of the marriage relationship and for the man to follow.

Sin has corrupted both the willing submission of the wife and the loving headship of the husband.

Though the man and the woman are equal as persons (both created in the image of God) they are designed differently as partners.