Genesis 3:16
"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Unto the woman he said,.... The woman receives her sentence next to the serpent, and before the man, because she was first and more deeply in the transgression, and was the means of drawing her husband into it. I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, or "thy sorrow of thy conception" (a), or rather "of thy pregnancy" (b); since not pain but pleasure is perceived in conception, and besides is a blessing; but this takes in all griefs and sorrows, disorders and pains, from the time of conception or pregnancy, unto

the birth; such as a nausea, a loathing of food, dizziness, pains in the head and teeth, faintings and swoonings, danger of miscarriage, and many distresses in such a case; besides the trouble of bearing such a burden, especially when it grows heavy: and when it is said, "I will greatly multiply", or "multiplying I will multiply" (c), it not only denotes the certainty of it, but the many and great sorrows endured, and the frequent repetitions of them, by often conceiving, bearing, and bringing forth: in sorrow shall thou bring forth children, sons and daughters, with many severe pangs and sharp pains, which are so very acute, that great tribulations and afflictions are often in Scripture set forth by them: and it is remarked by naturalists (d), that women bring forth their young with more pain than any other creature: and thy desire shall be to thy husband, which some understand of her desire to the use of the marriage bed, as Jarchi, and even notwithstanding her sorrows and pains in child bearing; but rather this is to be understood of her being solely at the will and pleasure of her husband; that whatever she desired should be referred to him, whether she should have her desire or not, or the thing she desired; it should be liable to be controlled by his will, which must determine it, and to which she must be subject, as follows: and he shall rule over thee, with less kindness and gentleness, with more rigour and strictness: it looks as if before the transgression there was a greater equality between the man and the woman, or man did not exercise the authority over the woman he afterwards did, or the subjection of her to him was more pleasant and agreeable than now it would be; and this was her chastisement, because she did not ask advice of her husband about eating the fruit, but did it of herself, without his will and consent, and tempted him to do the same. (a) "tuum dolorem etiam conceptus tui", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "tuum dolorem conceptus tui", Drusius, Noldius, p. 315. No. 1978. (b) "Praegnationis sive gestationis", Gataker. (c) "multiplicando multiplicabo", Pagninus, Montanus. (d) Aristotel. Hist. Animal. l. 7. c. 9.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (15 words)

H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H0802 אִשָּׁה
Definition:

33+; constructאֵשֶׁתGenesis 11:29+ (apparently absoluteDeuteronomy 21:11;1 Samuel 28:7;Psalm 58:9but compare Bö§ 728Ges§ 130. 5); suffixאִשְׁתִּיGenesis 20:11+;אִשְׁתְּךָGenesis 12:18+ (אֶשְׁתְּךָPsal 33+; constructאֵשֶׁתGenesis 11:29+ (apparently absoluteDeuteronomy 21:11;1 Samuel 28:7;Psalm 58:9but compare Bö§ 728Ges§ 130. 5); suffixאִשְׁתִּיGenesis 20:11+;אִשְׁתְּךָGenesis 12:18+ (אֶשְׁתְּךָPsal

Possible Meanings:
  • an offering made by fire (semantic_range)
H0559 אָמַר
Definition:

1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe 1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe

Possible Meanings:
  • lamb (semantic_range)
H7235 רָבָה
Definition:

A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o

Possible Meanings:
  • grow great (semantic_range)
  • grow tall and large (semantic_range)
  • make great (semantic_range)
H7235 רָבָה
Definition:

A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake forrabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full o

Possible Meanings:
  • grow great (semantic_range)
  • grow tall and large (semantic_range)
  • make great (semantic_range)
H6093 עִצָּבוֹן
Definition:

17toil; constructעִצְּבוֺן יָדֵינוּGenesis 5:29(both of agriculture); suffixעִצְּבוֺנֵךְGenesis 3:16(of travail; all J).Topical LexiconTerm OverviewThe Hebrew noun עִצָּבוֹן highlights the inward and 17toil; constructעִצְּבוֺן יָדֵינוּGenesis 5:29(both of agriculture); suffixעִצְּבוֺנֵךְGenesis 3:16(of travail; all J).Topical LexiconTerm OverviewThe Hebrew noun עִצָּבוֹן highlights the inward and

Possible Meanings:
  • pain (semantic_range)
H2032 הֵרוֹן
Definition:

11;Ruth 4:13; suffixהֵרֹנֵךְGenesis 3:16, either contracted, so Ew§ 214 a, or erroneous forהריונךwhich stands in⅏compare Di; —conception, in combinationמִלֵּדָה וּמִבֶּטֶן וּמֵהֵרָי֑וֺןHosea 9:11;וַתֵ 11;Ruth 4:13; suffixהֵרֹנֵךְGenesis 3:16, either contracted, so Ew§ 214 a, or erroneous forהריונךwhich stands in⅏compare Di; —conception, in combinationמִלֵּדָה וּמִבֶּטֶן וּמֵהֵרָי֑וֺןHosea 9:11;וַתֵ

H6089 עֶצֶב
Definition:

Fromatsab; an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind): grievous, idol, labor, sorrow.see HEBREWatsabBrown-Driver-BriggsI.עֶ֫צֶבnoun [masculine]pain, hurt, toil; — Fromatsab; an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind): grievous, idol, labor, sorrow.see HEBREWatsabBrown-Driver-BriggsI.עֶ֫צֶבnoun [masculine]pain, hurt, toil; —

Possible Meanings:
  • grieve (semantic_range)
H3205 יָלַד
Definition:

18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4) 18(3 t. in verse) + 16 t.;יָלָ֑דJeremiah 17:11;וְיָלַדconsecutivePsalm 7:15; suffixיְלָֽדְךָDeuteronomy 32:18; 2masculine singular suffixילדתניJeremiah 2:27Kt; Qrיְלִדְתָּנוּ(Köi. 410Ges§ 70, 2. R. 4)

Possible Meanings:
  • child (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • boy (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
H1121 בֵּן
Definition:

25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16 25+;ֵ˜בּןֿEzekiel 18:10; constructבֵּןGenesis 49:22(twice in verse);בֶּןֿGenesis 5:32+;בֶּןEsther 2:5;Nehemiah 6:18, & with prefixGenesis 17:17;Numbers 8:25;1 Chronicles 27:23; 2Chronicles 25:5; 31:16

Possible Meanings:
  • son (semantic_range)
  • son (semantic_range)
  • children (semantic_range)
  • youth (semantic_range)
  • young men (semantic_range)
H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H0376 אִישׁ
Definition:

23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ 23+; constructGenesis 25:27+; suffixאִישִׁיGenesis 29:32+, etc.; pluralאִישִׁיםPsalm 141:42t. (Phoenicianאשם); usuallyאֲנָשִׁיםGenesis 12:20+, from √אנשׁq. v.; constructאַנְשֵׁיJudges 6:27+; suffixאֲנ

Possible Meanings:
  • man (semantic_range)
H8669 תְּשׁוּקָה
Definition:

16(J); of man for woman,אֲנִי לְדוֺדִי וְאֵלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֺCant 7:11; of beast to devour, figurativeאֵלֶיךָ תְּשׁוּקָתוֺGenesis 4:7(J). (ᵐ5ἀποστροφήGenesis,ἐπιστροφήCanticles, whence NesMarg. 6propose 16(J); of man for woman,אֲנִי לְדוֺדִי וְאֵלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֺCant 7:11; of beast to devour, figurativeאֵלֶיךָ תְּשׁוּקָתוֺGenesis 4:7(J). (ᵐ5ἀποστροφήGenesis,ἐπιστροφήCanticles, whence NesMarg. 6propose

Possible Meanings:
  • longing (semantic_range)
H1931 הוּא
Definition:

23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both 23Kt, seeהוּא.הוּאmasculineהִיאfeminine(plural masculineהֵ֫מָּה,הֵם; feminineהֵ֫נָּה,הֵן[the latter only with prefixes]; see these words),pronoun of the 3rd person singular,he, she, used also(in both

H4910 מָשַׁל
Definition:

132t.,מָשָׁ֑לDaniel 11:4,וּמָשָׁ֑לconsecutiveDaniel 11:5; 3feminine singularמָשָׁ֑לָהPsalm 103:19; 2masculine singularמָשַׁלְתָּIsaiah 63:19,וּמָשַׁלְתָּ֫Deuteronomy 15:16; 3pluralמָֽשְׁלוּIsaiah 3:5; 132t.,מָשָׁ֑לDaniel 11:4,וּמָשָׁ֑לconsecutiveDaniel 11:5; 3feminine singularמָשָׁ֑לָהPsalm 103:19; 2masculine singularמָשַׁלְתָּIsaiah 63:19,וּמָשַׁלְתָּ֫Deuteronomy 15:16; 3pluralמָֽשְׁלוּIsaiah 3:5;

Possible Meanings:
  • dominion (semantic_range)

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