Genesis 3:15

Dr. Couch, why in Genesis 3:15 is it stated first that the (1) "seed of the woman (the Messiah) will bruise the serpent (Satan) on the head" before (2) "the serpent (Satan) bruises Him on the heel." The Messiah is said to bruise the serpent with a head wound before the serpent inflicts the bruise on His heel! Is there a reason for mentioning the bruising on the head of the snake first (a mortal wound), before the serpent has bruised the heel? ANSWER:  First, it is important to note that the English translation of "bruise" is a poor selection for the Hebrew word "su' ph." That word should better be translated "to crush." I do not know why the translators in many versions translated the word with the lighter meaning of "to bruise." What a goof!    While on one hand God sees Satan already defeated by the death of the Messiah on the cross, yet in another hand in time and space, that defeat is yet to come about in history at the end of the tribulation period. The apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in Romans 16:20: "And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (the feet of believers)." In Greek we have a Future Tense of the verb "suntrebo" which means "to trample, to crush, to conquer, to shatter."    Notice that in the passage it is God who is doing this, obviously using the judicial work carried out at the cross of the Messiah, but with also the victory that takes place with the redeemed believers!    There is something else to notice in this passage as well. Most translations say this will happen "soon," but the word used is "tachei." This word really should be translated "with rapidity." Or, when it takes place, it will happen speedily, and suddenly! The word "soon" is not a good translation.    On this verse Kroll writes: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (v. 20). In echoing Genesis 3:15, Paul reminds the believers at Rome that God has promised ultimate victory to His church, and shortly (better, "rapidly"), despite Satan's crafty attacks, the enemy will be defeated. God will crush Satan, and the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever (Rev. 11:15)."    Now to the original question, Moses in Genesis 3:15 wants to give the answer that fits best to the context of verses 14-15, and that is, it is guaranteed that the seed of the woman, the Messiah, will without a doubt, be victorious over the serpent, or Satan. That is why this is mentioned first. With the chronological order changed, Moses gets right to the point that Satan will surely be defeated—no question about it! So that is what he mentions first!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch