וְכִבְשֻׁהָ and Conquer It
We’ve all heard people say that “life is not a picnic” or that there’s no paradise on earth. We often talk about paradise as an unattainable place, and some religious beliefs declare it to be a destination one goes to after death. However, I maintain that paradise isn’t a place but a state of mind characterized by optimism, calm, a sense of achievement, love for our fellow creatures, and much more. In my opinion, life can be hell or heaven, depending on how you look at it.
The Bible in Genesis 1:28 provides the key to demystifying paradise. God instructs Man in the Garden of Eden, the original paradise, on how to create a permanent paradise within himself:
“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
The Hebrew word in the Bible for “and subdue it” is “לכבוש” or “lichbosh,” which can mean “to conquer” or “to subdue.”
My question is, “What is the ‘it’ that, according to the Bible, God commands Man to conquer or subdue?”
Most commentaries I’ve read understand “it” to mean “the earth” in the clause appearing just in front of the command “to subdue it.” However, I offer a different interpretation:
“It” could not possibly refer to the world around us. The all-knowing God would not command us to do the impossible, so when He commanded “and conquer it,” He didn’t mean the earth, which is primarily unconquerable.
The clause “אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ” (the earth) belongs only to the instruction “פְר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ” (be fruitful and multiply and fill…). It doesn’t belong to “and conquer it.”
The word “it” must refer to something else, and that can only mean something within Man, not something outside of himself. External elements are mostly unchangeable. We can dominate and use them but not truly conquer or subdue them. The only things we can conquer or subdue are our feelings and thoughts.
When unchangeable nature throws catastrophes in our faces, we can think about them and adjust our attitudes. If death takes our loved ones away, we can choose to be sad and full of despair, or we can choose to accept it and continue to live constructive lives. We can adapt our thoughts to the new physical circumstances we encounter.
As a baby, I doubted my ability to conquer anything, but as I grew in body and spirit, these doubts turned into confidence.
At the age of four, with parents who answered my every beck and call, running to fulfill my minutest wish, pushing things off tables, smashing them, and putting them together again, I felt able to conquer everything and to know everything. I didn’t realize I couldn’t conquer nature. Instead of accepting natural events, I ranted and raved against them, complaining that nature had unfairly sought me out to suffer.
Rain interfered with my games, thunder scared me, mountains blocked my path, animals attacked me, and other natural events around me wreaked havoc on my self-confidence, leaving me sad and unable to achieve anything.
Sadness and despondency need to be conquered. This is the meaning of “and conquer it.” It is a command to conquer ourselves. This means many things, like conquering the temptation to indulge in unhealthy behavior, striving to overcome challenges, and making the best of what life has given us.
The result of conquering our urges to take spontaneous action in the face of feelings arising from natural events is a feeling of confidence, satisfaction, a sense of achievement, and ultimate happiness.
This is what I call Paradise. Paradise is a state of mind that one achieves through conquering personal inclinations and urges.
God created us, unlike any other creature, with the ability to conquer our instincts. Do it, and you will attain paradise; don’t do it, and you will find yourself in hell. Life can be heaven or hell; the choice is ours.
Benefits of Conquering One’s Instincts
Here is a list of benefits that accrue from conquering one’s instincts: (provided by AI)
1. Improving Relationships: Some natural tendencies, like anger or selfishness, can harm relationships. Conquering these tendencies can help us build stronger, healthier relationships with others.
2. Achieving Goals: Certain natural tendencies might make it harder to achieve our goals. For example, procrastination can prevent us from completing important tasks. Overcoming this tendency can help us be more productive and successful.
3. Health and Well-being: Natural tendencies like overeating or avoiding exercise can negatively impact our health. Conquering these tendencies can lead to better physical and mental health.
4. Moral and Ethical Living: Some natural tendencies might conflict with our moral or ethical beliefs. For example, the tendency to act selfishly can conflict with the desire to help others. Overcoming these tendencies can help us live by our values.
5. Personal Growth: Overcoming natural tendencies can lead to personal growth and self-improvement. It can help us become more disciplined, resilient, and self-aware.
Conquering certain natural tendencies can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
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