Browsing by Author "Iorkyaa, Vealumun"

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    An Exegetical and Intertextual Analysis of “Desire” and “Rule” in Genesis 3:16
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2016-08) Iorkyaa, Vealumun
    The words, teshuqah “desire” and mashal “rule” in Genesis 3:16 have been subjected to various interpretations. A lot of exegetical investigations conclude that the judgment statement in the text suggests a creation order; while many intertextual analyses give it a sexual connotation. Quite clearly, the man and the woman were to procreate even before the Fall (Gen 1:28). But did the Bible specify who had the greater sexual desire that may have changed after the Fall? Also, it is true that the man and the woman were created sequentially and functionally different. If this (supposed) implicit order was reiterated at the Fall, how can it be reconciled with God’s own statement of protasis and apodosis – “Because you have done this” (Gen 3:14-17, NKJV)? This research sought an explanation of Genesis 3:16. It investigated whether in the context of this judgment oracle the Lord simply affirms the creation order; or whether it includes an emotional and/or economic reliance by the woman on her husband; or whether the judgment statement marked the introduction and/or described the unfolding of what was hitherto unknown. The Historical-Grammatical Method was used for this research as opposed to the Higher-Critical Approach. After a careful examination of “desire” and “rule” in Genesis 3:16, the research revealed that it is a descriptive prescription of the new order of things, of how life will be lived after the Fall—the woman would have a desire to dominate the man, but he will end up ruling her. God originally created man and woman sequentially and functionally different but equal. Therefore, in the context of Genesis 3:16, God did not reiterate an original creation order of male dominance over the female. It also seems a contradiction to see Genesis 3:16 as both a judgment statement and a continuation of the creation order at the same time. In addition, it appears difficult to see in the text that which suggests that as a result of the Fall women exhibit overpowering sexual drives towards their husbands. Genesis 3:16 presents a description of God’s prescription of the relationship between the man and his wife in a sin-distorted world. Consequently, the policy-making body should maintain and uphold the woman’s subjection/submission to the man’s rulership as long as sin and its consequences endure. This may not be safely ignored.