Genesis 3:1-6

The Fall

1 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.

Genesis 3:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. Job 1:7; Job 2:2; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2
• 2. S Genesis 2:17
• 3. Genesis 2:16
• 4. S Genesis 2:17
• 5. S John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3
• 6. S Genesis 1:26; Genesis 14:18,19; Psalms 7:8; Isaiah 14:14; Ezekiel 28:2
• 7. James 1:14-15; 1 John 2:16
• 8. Numbers 30:7-8; Jer 44:15,19,24
• 9. 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14