How the Bible has been translated has affected how the the church responds to abuse. Most translators have been men. As translators, men often bring their assumptions about gender to their work as translators. This includes assumptions about male superiority, the delusion and pride of left-brain dominated thinking, assumptions about typical female sins, and blind spots about typical male sins. It also includes assumptions based on ignorance of women’s experiences and lack of interest in women’s experiences.
Contents
- The whole Bible
- Genesis 3:16 and 20:16
- Exodus 21:10-11
- Judges 19:2
- Malachi 2:16 and 2:13
- Romans 9:28
- 2 Timothy 3:6
- The New Testament in general
The whole Bible
The Bible uses different words for divorce but they all mean legal divorce. Those who tell you otherwise are mistaken. — by Barbara Roberts.
Genesis
What is the woman’s desire? How Susan Foh’s interpretation of Genesis 3:16 fed steroids to abusers. — by Barbara Roberts.
The woman’s desire in Genesis 3:16 — let’s be consistent with the context and with actual life. — by Barbara Roberts.
This post includes a summary of Andrew A. Macintosh’s conclusions about the word תְּשׁוּקָה (teshûqâ) which occurs in Genesis 3:16. Macintosh is a Hebrew scholar and academic. He researched the translation of that word. He says desire is not a proper translation of that word in Genesis 3:16; more likely the word means concern, preoccupation, (single-minded) devotion, focus.
The post also rebuts Susan Foh’s interpretation of Genesis 3:16, and presents my suggested interpretation which makes more sense of the context and fits better with empirical evidence about gender relations throughout history.
The change of Genesis 3:16, ESS, the colonial code of relationship, and a call to bystanders — by Barbara Roberts. How the ESV changed its translation of Genesis 3:16 in 2016.
Toward a Better Reading: Reflections on the Permanent Changes to the Text of Genesis 3:16 in the ESV — by Wendy Alsup and Hannah Anderson (2016).
Contrary Women: Genesis 3:16b in the (now non-)Permanent ESV — by Matthew Lynch (2016).
The ESV Bible has changed Genesis 3:16 yet again! — by Barbara Roberts (2025).
Sarah’s Covering in Genesis 20:16 — the Geneva Bible translated it absurdly and dishonestly — by Barbara Roberts.
Exodus 21:7-11
Daughters Sold into Service: Exodus 21, William Tyndale’s Translation — by Ruth Magnusson Davis.
Protecting women from abuse. Has Exodus 21:10 been mistranslated in most English versions of the Bible? — by Barbara Roberts
Exodus 21 authorises an abused wife to divorce a hard-hearted husband — by Barbara Roberts
Judges 19:2
Did the concubine become angry with the Levite? Or did she leave because she was sexually unfaithful to the Levite? — by Barbara Roberts.
Malachi
“God hates divorce” is a mistranslation — This lists Barbara Roberts’ most important articles on the mistranslation of Malachi 2:16.
Whose tears are covering the altar in Malachi 2:13? The Matthew Bible vs. the Geneva Bible, Puritans and Calvin — Barbara Roberts distills Ruth Magnusson Davis article on this topic.
2 Timothy 3:6
Why did Paul call abused women “little-women”? — by Barbara Roberts.
“Little women” have been called “silly women,” which now contributors to misogyny in the church — by Barbara Roberts.
God’s view of women who get targeted by abusive men (2 Timothy 3:6-7) — by Barbara Roberts.
Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28 has been mistranslated. It should not be used as a platitude to mollify someone who is suffering — by Barbara Roberts.
The New Testament in general
The worst mistranslations in English Bibles relating to women — Barbara Roberts shares Andrew Bartlett’s work.
The Matthew Bible is the first complete English Bible, and Ruth Magnusson Davis is gently it updating for modern readers — Barbara Roberts highlights the excellent translation done by William Tyndale and Myles Coverdale in the early 1500s. Note, the Matthew Bible was produced in an era when male leadership in church and home was assumed (as was class structure) so it is not an ‘egalitarian’ translation in the modern sense of that word. But it nevertheless has many gems which illuminate God’s mercy through Christ and the Holy Spirit’s influence in the life of believers.
Page updated August 2025
