Exegetical Insight

Have we accorded too much to the Doctrine of the Fall?

For example in relation to Eve and childbearing pains

• This is usually translated to labour pains but normal word in Hebrew for labour pains and birth pangs is something else.
  
• Childbearing is also an odd translation as the original Hebrew word usually means conception.

So the judgement is really against man and woman’s vocation and calling. This is the social implication as a result of disobeying God. Thus her pains are in fact with regards to her role as mother and wife, like seeing her sons kill each other, which is every mother’s nightmare.

These are some of the stuff we discuss in our Old Testament course. And my professor, Dr Iain Provan, is an authority in Old Testament to be reckoned with.