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Genesis 3

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1Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’” 2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, 3but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall not touch it, lest you die.’” 4The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t really die, 5for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. 7Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. 8They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. 9Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13Yahweh God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go on your belly and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” 16To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bear children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and ate from the tree, about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ the ground is cursed for your sake. You will eat from it with much labor all the days of your life. 18It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. 19By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 20The man called his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living. 21Yahweh God made coats of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them. 22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—” 23Therefore Yahweh God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

World English Bible (public domain)

Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—"

Genesis 3:22

Summary

Genesis chapter 3 recounts the moment of humanity's disobedience to God, often referred to as the Fall. The chapter begins with the serpent tempting Eve by questioning God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve, persuaded by the serpent's cunning words, eats the fruit and also gives it to Adam, who willingly eats as well. This act of disobedience leads to an immediate loss of innocence, as they realize their nakedness and attempt to hide from God. The consequences of their actions unfold as God confronts Adam and Eve, leading to curses upon the serpent, the woman, and the man, and ultimately, expulsion from the Garden of Eden, which symbolizes a severed relationship with God.

Key Themes

Sin and DisobedienceThe Consequences of SinHuman ResponsibilityRedemption and Hope

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Genesis 3: frequently asked questions

What is Genesis 3 about?+
Genesis chapter 3 recounts the moment of humanity's disobedience to God, often referred to as the Fall. The chapter begins with the serpent tempting Eve by questioning God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve, persuaded by the serpent's cunning words, eats the fruit and also gives it to Adam, who willingly eats as well. This act of disobedience leads to an immediate loss of innocence, as they realize their nakedness and attempt to hide from God. The consequences of their actions unfold as God confronts Adam and Eve, leading to curses upon the serpent, the woman, and the man, and ultimately, expulsion from the Garden of Eden, which symbolizes a severed relationship with God.
What is the key verse in Genesis 3?+
Genesis 3:22: "Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—""
What are the main themes of Genesis 3?+
The main themes of Genesis 3 are Sin and Disobedience, The Consequences of Sin, Human Responsibility, Redemption and Hope.

Study Notes