Genesis 3:2-12

2 The woman said to the serpent, "¹From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' "

4 ²The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!

5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and ³you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

6 ⁴When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they ⁵knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

8 They heard the sound of ⁶the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, ⁷and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "⁸Where are you?"

10 He said, "⁹I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."

11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

12 ¹⁰The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."

Genesis 3:2-12 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. Genesis 2:16, 17
• 2. John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3
• 3. Isaiah 14:14; Ezek 28:2, 12-17
• 4. Romans 5:12-19; 1 Timothy 2:14; James 1:14, 15; 1 John 2:16
• 5. Isaiah 47:3; Lamentations 1:8
• 6. Genesis 18:33; Leviticus 26:12; Deuteronomy 23:14
• 7. Job 31:33; Psalms 139:1-12; Hosea 10:8; Amos 9:3; Revelation 6:15-17
• 8. Genesis 4:9; Genesis 18:9
• 9. Exodus 20:18, 19; Deuteronomy 5:25
• 10. Job 31:33; Proverbs 28:13

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "girdles"
• [b]. Lit "wind, breeze"