It does assign husbandly responsibility for leadership in the marriage relationship. Adam is also spared a direct cursing. His major mistake was in heeding the voice of his wife rather than the voice of God. As the one having the greatest responsibility, his sentence is the longest and most comprehensive. “In toil you shall eat of it” [v. 17] notes a marring of man’s fundamental role as laborer/provider; work shall be with difficulties and futilities (thorns and thistles … in the sweat of your face).