Desire of the Woman

The desire of the woman

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 Hebrew word that means "desire" or "longing."  (Scripture references quoted below.)

A view concerning this "desire" of the woman is that it is for control:  her desire is to control her husband, yet God says the husband will rule over her.

I had previously not taken that view but changed my mind after comparing Genesis 3:16 with 4:6-7.

It could be that the woman will have a desire for a husband, even though it brings with it the prospect of him ruling over her.

The Song of Songs reference (7:10) speaks more of the man having a desire for the woman. Not necessarily to control her but just that he 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 of a man for a woman or what a woman has for a man.  This is how I had considered the "desire" of the woman in the curse reference.  

There is a reference in First Samuel concerning Israel's desire for a king, but it is not that same word in Hebrew (see quote below for 1 Samuel 9:20), yet it is an example of how something is desired--Israel wants a king--that brings with it the prospect of being ruled over by that which is desired--the king will rule over them.    They longed for a king, but if they get one, he will rule over them.  The longing outweighed the prospect:  they will have to put up with the loss of freedom due to his rule over them.  This is the way of Israel and having a king over them.

This could be a similar example of how the woman will desire to have a husband, but he will rule over her.

However...

The Genesis 4:6-7 reference to sin would suggest it's about control:  sin will desire to control you, but you will rule over it:  "... sin lies at the door. And its [sin's] desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

So, with the woman in Genesis 3:16, it could be that the woman will desire to control her husband, but he will rule over her.  

Making things difficult is that the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the same Greek word in both Genesis references (3:16 and 4:6-7), while the Song of Songs (7:10) uses a different Greek word.  

The Septuagint does appear to be the source of many New Testament quotes by its' authors. 

The Genesis references in the Septuagint have the meaning of "turning away" and is translated into English as "submission." 

I don't really know what to do with the Septuagint's translation of the Old Testament here.  It doesn't support the idea that the desire is to 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 4:6-7 does not allow such a view, for sin wants to control its subject--like what happen to Cain, when he let sin possess him, and he murders Abel.

It seems there is an intended contrast in the Genesis references, which the Septuagint doesn't reflect.  The contrast is between a desiring for against a ruling over.

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 is best to understand the desire as one to control:  the woman and sin wants to be in control, but to the contrary, they are to be ruled over--yet that ruling over is potential and conditional, because there is no guarantee that it can be accomplished, 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

The Song of Songs 7:10 reference in the Septuagint has the Greek word for "turning" and is translated "desire."