Genesis 3:16 Bible Old Testament. Surah 4:34 (Quran)

How do Jews interpret, what Christians interpret as Genesis 3:16?

I suppose it depends on which Jewish person you asked. Having lived in a Jewish community for fifteen years, I can tell you that they take it much more seriously than do Christians.

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;

My understanding is what God wants to express here is that Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden that God is sorrow, because God created life, not death.
Eve's pain in childbirth implies God's sorrow in this matter and the truth that God wants to educate Eve what meaning of life.


and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

God's purpose may be because Eve listened to the serpent, So God wants Eve to listen to Adam,Because it was Eve, not Adam, who was seduced first.

Surah 4:34 It's said very clear. I don't think it's necessary to explain it. Besides, I don't want to cause unnecessary trouble.

I was in a used book store today in the Islam section. it was larger than I expected. I bought a Quran Interpreted by Usuf Ali. It is doubtful that I will be a Muslim but I want to know more. I will seek out an Islamic Forum.

Why does it matter, and why should the Jewish interpretation be any different than the Christian interpretation, if the Bible is properly interpreted?

Before I believed in Jesus, I read a lot of religious books. It's no big deal.

This is a statement of consequence, not a command.

do you mean John 3:16 or Genesis 3:16

hmm, maybe you are right.

Not all knowledge is good to have, be careful.

I agree. I can't remember who said it, perhaps the Bible Answer Man . . . The best way to identify falsehood (or a False Teacher) is by knowing the Truth inside and out.

Here's a Messianic Jew. Gen3:16 @ 40:00

I agree with most of what he is saying, but I differ a bit.
Greatly multiplied sorrow and conception: adverse life conditions, like Adam, who has to labor in futility. These things were done so that people would call on the lord when it gets overwhelming.
Desire for her husband, and him ruling over her: In spite of greatly multiplied labor pains, she's still going to be sexually attracted to Adam. And Adam is still going to be in charge.
Some people seem to think that Adam was not in charge in the garden, but it seems obvious enough. Greater fault is found in him- Sin came into the world by him, even though Eve was the first to sin. He decides what the woman is called, and chose her name. Adam was made to dress & keep the garden. She was made to help him. He is clearly already the designated leader in Eden.

I am a former Muslim who is now a saved child of God in Jesus Christ our Messiah - and it's a "big deal".

This is a Christian forum, and it's good to point people with questions about the faith to God and His Truth - not Satan's deceptions.

A person who is confused about faith and seeking a greater clarity really shouldn't walk into the lions den as your unprotected and unprepared

To answer your original question I'm not sure how Jews interpret the verse and it's concept, but like any other faith the answer will depend on what sect (?) of Jews you ask. You would likely get a variety of answers.

We here would be happy to give you a greater Christian understanding of the verse in question if you'd like... Myself included. Just say the word.

As for myself, I am a former Muslim, now saved in Christ. One of my brothers in faith (Christian) directed me to your thread believing I might be able to offer some input that you would find useful, so here I am.. (haha)

Ask me anything you wish and I'll be very happy to help. I'm not a busy person, just a homebody.

I'm older than dirt and know that the OT interpretation is flawed and at times worse than others. It used to drive me mad when I would read the Bible (KJV) and the Pastor would take it off in a direction that seemed so insane. Then they'd say I wasn't educated enough to understand. Opinions vary. I favor the view that the first texts were around 700 BC.

Sorry, I meant Genesis 3:16. I would not expect Jews to believe John 3:16.

I was an Evangelical for 33 years and gave up. I studied Islam for almost a decade, and now am more of an academic. I believe in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Some see God as one, and others see him as three persons. I have seen people act in a sad way while arguing about that. I think that people should overlook their differences and love each other. Micah 6:8 is my favorite scripture. If people would leave it at that.

What makes you give up ?

So you would rather believe those who attack the Bible than those who believe it. Since Moses was on earth around 1500 B.C. you are off by about 800 years. And since both Orthodox Jews and conservative Christians believe that Moses wrote the Torah, you are in a very small minority.

Getting back to Genesis 3:16, it is not exactly rocket science. So let's see what it says and believe that what was written was divinely inspired: Unto the woman [Eve] he [God] 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.

So what we see is that Eve -- being the first woman who sinned -- brought a curse upon all women.
1. Sorrows would be increased for women in many way
2. Conceptions would also increase so women could bear many children
3. Child-bearing would be painful
4. The wife's desire would be towards her husband
5. Husbands would have authority over wives, and wives would need to submit to their own husband. [This teaching is also found in the New Testament].