King James Version

What Does Genesis 3:16 Mean?

Genesis 3:16 in the King James Version says “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. to thy: or, subject to thy husband”

Genesis 3:16 · KJV

Context

14

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

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. to thy: or, subject to thy husband

17

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; bring: Heb. cause to bud

Read Genesis 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt ... This chapter narrates humanity's tragic fall from innocence through temptation, sin, and divine judgment. The serpent's subtle questioning of God's word, Eve's addition to and misquotation of God's command, and Adam's passive participation demonstrate the progression from doubt to disobedience to disaster.

The consequences affect every dimension of human existence: spiritual death (separation from God), physical death (mortality), relational dysfunction (shame, blame, conflict), vocational difficulty (cursed ground, painful labor), and cosmic disruption (groaning creation). Yet within the curses, God provides gracious provisions: proto-evangelium promise of redemption, clothing to cover shame, and preservation of life despite deserved death.

Theologically, this chapter establishes the origin and nature of sin, the reality of Satan's activity, the universality of human fallenness, the justice of divine judgment, and the necessity of redemption. Understanding the fall illuminates why the world contains suffering and evil, why humans rebel against God, why salvation requires divine intervention, and how Christ as the second Adam reverses the first Adam's failure (Romans 5:12-21, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The serpent in Genesis 3 reflects ancient Near Eastern associations between serpents and chaos, evil, or deceptive wisdom. Unlike pagan myths where serpents might be deified, Genesis presents the serpent as a mere creature, though Satan's instrument (Revelation 12:9, 20:2). Ancient curse formulas from various cultures parallel God's pronouncements, but Genesis uniquely embeds redemptive promise within judgment.

The agricultural curses (thorns, sweat, difficult labor) would have resonated deeply with ancient subsistence farmers for whom crop failure meant starvation. The pain in childbearing acknowledges a universal female experience that ancient cultures attributed to various causes, but Genesis traces it to sin's consequences rather than divine cruelty or inherent evil in creation or sexuality.

Archaeological evidence of humanity's ancient struggles with agriculture, disease, death, and violence aligns with Genesis's portrayal of a fallen world. Ancient wisdom literature from Mesopotamia and Egypt grappled with suffering's origins, but Genesis alone provides the theological explanation: human rebellion against God brought cosmic corruption. This account would have answered Israelite questions about why their promised land required hard labor, why they suffered pain and death, and why they needed redemption.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. How should this truth about Curse and Promise shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
אֶֽל1 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָאִשָּׁ֣ה2 of 16

“Unto the woman”

H802

a woman

אָמַ֗ר3 of 16

“he said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אַרְבֶּה֙4 of 16

“I will greatly”

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

אַרְבֶּה֙5 of 16

“I will greatly”

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ6 of 16

“thy sorrow”

H6093

worrisomeness, i.e., labor or pain

וְהֵֽרֹנֵ֔ךְ7 of 16

“and thy conception”

H2032

pregnancy

בְּעֶ֖צֶב8 of 16

“in sorrow”

H6089

an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)

תֵּֽלְדִ֣י9 of 16

“thou shalt bring forth”

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

בָנִ֑ים10 of 16

“children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וְאֶל11 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אִישֵׁךְ֙12 of 16

“shall be to thy husband”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

תְּשׁ֣וּקָתֵ֔ךְ13 of 16

“and thy desire”

H8669

a longing

וְה֖וּא14 of 16
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

יִמְשָׁל15 of 16

“and he shall rule”

H4910

to rule

בָּֽךְ׃16 of 16
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 3:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 3:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Titus 2:5Colossians 3:181 Corinthians 11:31 Timothy 2:151 Corinthians 14:34Ephesians 5:22-24

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 3 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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