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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Genesis 3:16 and Genesis 4:7	AJA	Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Question: Dear Brother - I have a couple of questions? 1. How is a catholic supposed to understand the verse concerning women in Genesis 3:16 "Yet your desire will be for your husband"? 2. Does the word 'desire' in Genesis 3:16 mean the same thing as the word desire in Genesis 4:7 "Sin is crouching at the door ; and its desire is for you"? I have heard people interpret the word 'desire' in Genesis 4:7 as as "wanting to rule or dominate". If this is true, does it mean that Genesis 3:16 actually reads as "Your desire will be to rule over your husband"? And if this is true, is this one of the consequences of the fall? And does this explain why the headship of man in the family in under constant attack? AJA
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear AJA: Sorry about the delay in responding. The "desire will be for your husband" in Genesis 3:16 is referring that a woman will desire her husband in the marital embrace despite the fact that the product of the marital embrace is a child, to which giving birth is painful. The "desire" in Genesis 4:7 is referring to the fact that the devil (sin) desires (wants) to temp you and get you to sin. This is talking about the "desire of sin" to rule over you. This passage has nothing whatsoever to do with the relationship of a husband and wife. As for the headship of the husband, the husband is to be the priest of the home, the spiritual leader of the household. This is called a paterfamilias economy (means "father head of the family). The devil wishes to undermine that economy because it is the image of God in the human family. God, Himself, is a kind of family in that He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus, while each of us is made in the image of God, the more perfect image of God is in the human family — father, mother, child. Satan hates God and thus will do anything to destroy the image of Him that he created in us. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Genesis 3:16 and Genesis 4:7

AJA

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Question:

Dear Brother - I have a couple of questions?

1. How is a catholic supposed to understand the verse concerning women in Genesis 3:16 "Yet your desire will be for your husband"?

2. Does the word 'desire' in Genesis 3:16 mean the same thing as the word desire in Genesis 4:7 "Sin is crouching at the door ; and its desire is for you"? I have heard people interpret the word 'desire' in Genesis 4:7 as as "wanting to rule or dominate". If this is true, does it mean that Genesis 3:16 actually reads as "Your desire will be to rule over your husband"? And if this is true, is this one of the consequences of the fall? And does this explain why the headship of man in the family in under constant attack?

AJA

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear AJA:

Sorry about the delay in responding.

The "desire will be for your husband" in Genesis 3:16 is referring that a woman will desire her husband in the marital embrace despite the fact that the product of the marital embrace is a child, to which giving birth is painful.

The "desire" in Genesis 4:7 is referring to the fact that the devil (sin) desires (wants) to temp you and get you to sin. This is talking about the "desire of sin" to rule over you. This passage has nothing whatsoever to do with the relationship of a husband and wife.

As for the headship of the husband, the husband is to be the priest of the home, the spiritual leader of the household. This is called a paterfamilias economy (means "father head of the family). The devil wishes to undermine that economy because it is the image of God in the human family. God, Himself, is a kind of family in that He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus, while each of us is made in the image of God, the more perfect image of God is in the human family — father, mother, child. Satan hates God and thus will do anything to destroy the image of Him that he created in us.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum