Genesis 4:7 – “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”
NLT says “But you must subdue it and be its master.”
KJV says “And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” (Interesting sidenote, KJV Genesis 3:16 says “and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” NIV Genesis 3:16 says “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Both NIV and KJV use Strongs # 04910 for rule in Genesis 3:16, but NIV uses a different word for Genesis 4:7.)
Anyway, it’s interesting because I normally think of being weaker than sin, and getting run over by it, giving into it (and granted, without Jesus’ help, I am). However, this is a reminder that sin can be mastered. In light of this, when Paul speaks of being a slave to righteousness rather than a slave to sin, one can see that this carries on to not only be a slave to righteousness, but a master to sin as well.
Filed under: Genesis, NIV In 2 Years
