Genesis 3:1-11

1 The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must never eat the fruit of any tree in the garden'?"

2 The woman answered the snake, "We're allowed to eat the fruit from any tree in the garden

3 except the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, 'You must never eat it or touch it. If you do, you will die!'"

4 "You certainly won't die!" the snake told the woman.

5 "God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You'll be like God, knowing good and evil."

6 The woman saw that the tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

7 Then their eyes were opened, and they both realized that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves.

8 In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking around in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees in the garden.

9 The LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden. I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid."

11 God asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?"

Genesis 3:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 3

In this chapter an account is given of the temptation of our first parents, of the instrument of it, and of their fall into it, and of the effect of it, Ge 3:1-7 their summons upon it to appear before God, against whom they had sinned, Ge 3:8-10 their examination by him, and the excuses they made, Ge 3:11-13 the various sentences passed of the serpent, the woman, and the man, Ge 3:14-19 some incidental things recorded, expressive of faith and hope in man, and of favour to him, Ge 3:20,21 and his expulsion from the garden of Eden, Ge 3:22-24.