• Engage

    On the ESV’s New Rendering of Genesis 3:16 (“Contrary Wives”)

    In light of the volumes written about recent changes in the ESV, I thought I’d offer a few reflections on the interpretation of this text (Gen. 3:16), especially because the verse is foundational to many people’s understanding of gender roles. First, the change: Previous ESV translation of Genesis 3:16: Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. New (what ESV is calling the “permanent”) text of Genesis 3:16: Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you. First, an underlying reason for some of the mistrust: The ESV committee had pretty conservative complementarians on it. I’ve identified about five different kinds of…