The idea
The Hebrew for 'enmity' denotes lethal hostility — the language of blood-feud and war. The verse sets up a four-party battle: the serpent and his seed against the woman and her seed, which ancient Jews read as the war with the devil. The woman's offspring crushes the serpent's head.
Key verses
- Genesis 3:15 — 'enmity between you and the woman… he shall bruise your head' (the curse on the serpent begins in Genesis 3:14).
- Genesis 4:7 — sin 'crouching at the door' of Eve's son — Genesis' own commentary on the war (p 24).
- Numbers 35:21, Ezekiel 25:15 — the same word = deadly hostility and war.
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| The war declared in Genesis 3:15 | → | Mary and her Son against Satan |
The Hebrew for 'enmity' means lethal war, not mild dislike, and ancient Jews read Genesis 3:15 as the battle against the devil. So when Revelation shows the Woman against the dragon, Pitre sees Mary and her Son as the promised pair who crush the serpent.