Genesis 3
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Genesis 3 Meaning
In Genesis 3, we encounter the story of the Fall of Man. It is a significant event in the Bible as it describes the entrance of sin into the world and the consequences that resulted from it. This passage shows how Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and were tempted by the serpent, succumbing to the allure of knowledge and independence. Ultimately, their disobedience brought about a separation from God and introduced suffering, pain, and death into the world.
Genesis 3 Commentary and Explanation
In Genesis 3, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in human history, where the course of our existence takes a dramatic turn. This chapter not only marks the entrance of sin into our world but also reveals God’s plan for redemption and the consequences of our disobedience.
As we begin our exploration of Genesis 3, it’s important to note the context. In the previous chapter, God had created Adam and Eve, placing them in the perfect environment of the Garden of Eden. They enjoyed an intimate relationship with God, and everything was in harmony. However, this chapter reveals the serpent’s cunning deception and our first parents’ fateful choice to disobey God’s command.
The serpent, as identified in Revelation 12:9, is none other than Satan himself, who enters the scene with a deceptive question: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Satan’s tactics involve questioning and distorting God’s word, a strategy he continues to employ throughout the Bible.
Eve responds to the serpent’s deceit by adding her own distortion of God’s command. She tells the serpent that they should not eat or touch the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden (Genesis 3:3), even though God only forbade eating it in Genesis 2:17. This misrepresentation shows how easily we can be misled when we do not rely on the clear and accurate revelation of God’s Word.
Satan then directly contradicts God’s warning by stating that they would not die but instead become like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:4-5). This is a foundational lie that continues to seduce humanity, the idea that we can be like God apart from His plan and authority.
Tragically, Adam and Eve fall for Satan’s deceit. Eve takes the fruit, eats it, and gives some to Adam, who also eats. In doing so, they disobey God’s explicit command (Genesis 2:17). This disobedience leads to a profound awareness of their nakedness, symbolizing their newfound knowledge of good and evil.
In response to their disobedience, God confronts Adam and Eve. He pronounces judgments on the serpent, the woman, and the man. These judgments include enmity between the offspring of the woman and the serpent (Genesis 3:15), pain in childbirth for women (Genesis 3:16), and the toil and hardship of work for men (Genesis 3:17-19). These consequences of sin continue to affect humanity to this day.
However, amidst the judgments, God offers a glimmer of hope. He promises a Savior, the seed of the woman, who will ultimately defeat the serpent (Genesis 3:15). This is the first glimpse of God’s redemptive plan, a promise that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:4-5, Revelation 12:9).
Genesis 3 serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of sin and disobedience. It shows us the tactics of the enemy and the importance of holding fast to God’s Word. But it also reveals God’s grace and His plan for redemption, which culminates in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Let us heed the lessons of this chapter and turn to God in repentance and faith, knowing that in Christ, we find forgiveness and restoration.
Also Read: Genesis 2 Meaning and Commentary
Context of Genesis 3
The story of Adam and Eve’s fall is situated in the beginning of the Bible, in the book of Genesis. It follows the creation account in the first two chapters, where God creates the heavens and the earth, plants, animals, and finally, human beings in His own image. God places Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and gives them the responsibility to tend and care for it.
Lessons From Genesis 3
This passage teaches us several important lessons:
- Disobedience to God’s commands leads to consequences and separation from His presence.
- Sin brings about shame and a desire to hide from God.
- Temptation often comes in the form of distorted truths and half-truths.
- God’s grace and provision are present even in times of judgment.
- Our actions not only affect us but also have consequences for others.
- God desires to restore and reconcile humanity to Himself, as seen in His pursuit of Adam and Eve.
Final Thoughts
The story of the Fall of Man in Genesis 3 reminds us of the reality of sin and its consequences. It highlights the importance of obedience to God’s commands and the dangers of succumbing to temptation. However, it also showcases God’s love, grace, and provision, even in the midst of judgment. As Christians, we can learn from this story and strive to walk in obedience to God, relying on His grace and seeking His presence in all aspects of our lives.