16 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
The "desire" in Genesis 3:16 and 4:6-7 and Song of Songs 7:10 are the only places of this Hrebrew word that means "desire" or "longing." (Scripture references quoted below.)
The First Samual reference is not that same word in Hebrew (see quote below 1 Samuel 9:20), but it could be an illustration of how the "desire" of the woman is not one of longing to possess or control her husband. It might seem to have the same idea, that there is a desire for something that brings with it the prospect of being ruled over.
The Genesis references support the idea that there is a longing of one thing for the other, but the other will rule over the one that longs for them.
What is that longing? Is it just a desire to have them--to possess them-- or a desire to control them? Is possessing the same as controling? Maybe, maybe not.
The Genesis 4 reference to sin would suggest it's about control: sin will desire to control you, but you will rule over it (an issue of free will/ responsibility).
So with the woman in Genesis 3, it could be that the woman will desire to possess to control the husband, but he will rule over her.
However, the Song of Songs reference speaks more of the man having a desire for the woman. Not necessarily to control her but just desires her. It's the only other place in the Old Testament where this Hebrew word is used. Strong's dictionary defines it as the desire a man for a woman or a woman has for a man . This is how I have considered the desire in the curse reference.
The best example elsewhere could be with reference to the Hebrews desire for a king. They longed for a king, but if they get one, he will rule over them. The longing out-weighed the prospect. The woman will long for a man, but he will rule over her: the longing outweighed the prospect of being ruled over--she can't live without him, but she will have to put up with the loss of freedom. This is the way of Israel and having a king over them.
What makes things more difficult is that the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament only uses the same Greek word in both Genesis references, while the Song of Songs uses a different Greek word. The Genesis word has the meaning of "turning away" and is translated into English as "submission." The woman shall be in submission to her husband, and he shall rule over her-- her desire would then be that her husband rule over her. The sin reference says that sin shall be in submission, and he (Cain) shall reign over itit's difficut to think that sin desires to be in submission, unless the idea is just that it is God's will for it to be kept in submission. The Song of Songs reference has the Greek word for "turning" and is translated "desire." The Septuagint does appear to be the source of many New Testament quotes by its' authors. I don't really know what to do with it's translation of the Old Testament here. It doesn't support the idea that the desire is one to possess or control but the opposite of being in submission. The submission idea could work for the woman and be like the example of Israel desiring a king over them which would be a voluntary submission. But the sin reference in Genesis 4 would have to be about sin's subject having it in submission by ruling over it and not about how sin wants to possess and control it's subject--like what was potentially going to happen to Cain, and it does, as his sinful response probably led to the murder of his brother.
I think in light of the two references in Genesis involving the same Hebrew word for "desire," and seeing a contrast in each reference between the one desiring and the other ruling, that it may be best to understand the desire as one of wanting to possess for control: the woman and sin wants to possess to control its subject, but the subject will, to the contrary, rule over them. Of course, the ability of the subject to fulfill that objective is potential and conditional, because there is no guaratee that the subject will accomplish it, whether the husband over his wife or the sinner over sin.
16 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
And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father's house?" 1 Samuel 9:20
The Hebrews desired a King, and God warned them that he would rule over them, making demands of them. Their longing for a king outweighed the prospect of the king's rule over them.
10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you ... 1 Samuel 8:10-11
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us," 1 Samuel 8:19
you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day." 1 Samuel 8:18
6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Genesis 4:6-7
10 I am my beloved's,
And his desire is toward me. Song of Songs 7:10
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