Genesis 3
Genesis 3 marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, recounting the fall of mankind. This chapter explains how Adam and Eve, the first humans, succumb to temptation and disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their actions lead to sin entering the world, bringing consequences not only for them but for all creation. This chapter highlights themes of temptation, disobedience, judgment, and the beginning of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.
Genesis 3:1 (NKJV)
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
In this verse, the serpent is described as cunning, symbolically referring to Satan, as Satan likely used the serpent as a medium to deceive Eve. Satan probably took control of the serpent and spoke through it—not by hypnotizing it, but by using its beauty and intelligence to manipulate Eve. Before the fall, the serpent was a beautiful, upright creature, making it an ideal vessel for Satan’s deception.
Genesis 3:2-3 (NKJV)
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Eve responds to the serpent, clarifying God's command about the trees. However, she adds an extra detail—“nor shall you touch it”—which God didn’t command. This addition reveals that she may have misunderstood or misremembered God's exact words. Her response shows a desire to uphold God’s command, but also a vulnerability that the serpent will soon exploit. Her slight misrepresentation opens the door for further temptation.
Genesis 3:4-5 (NKJV)
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Here, the serpent directly contradicts God’s word, claiming that death will not follow their disobedience. He manipulates Eve by suggesting that God is withholding something good from her and Adam, implying that God’s restriction is not out of love but out of a desire to keep them from becoming like Him. The temptation becomes more about power and independence from God, appealing to Eve's desire for wisdom and godlike status.
Genesis 3:6 (NKJV)
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
In Ellen G. White's writings, she explains that after Eve ate the fruit, she gave it to Adam. Adam was immediately aware that Eve had fallen under the deception of the enemy, as God had warned them. Unlike Eve, who was deceived, Adam was not deceived but made a deliberate choice to join Eve in her fate.
According to Ellen White, Adam understood that by eating the fruit, Eve had sinned and would face the consequence of death. He knew this act of rebellion was the work of the enemy, but he was overcome by his love for Eve. He couldn’t bear the thought of living without her and chose to share her fate, even though he fully realized the consequences. White explains that Adam reasoned it would be better to die with Eve than to live without her.
"He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true? Eve was before him, as beautiful and apparently as innocent as before this act of disobedience" (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 56).
This shows that Adam’s love for Eve led him to make a tragic decision—one based on emotion rather than trusting in God’s plan. He acted out of fear of separation from Eve rather than faith in God’s ability to resolve the situation in a righteous way. This act of deliberate disobedience marked the point where sin entered the world through both Adam and Eve, setting the stage for humanity's fall.
Genesis 3:7 (NKJV)
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
In this verse, Adam and Eve’s realization of their nakedness symbolized the loss of their robe of light—a sign of their righteousness and connection with God. According to Ellen White's writtings, before sin, a beautiful light surrounded them, representing their innocence. After sin, this light vanished, leaving them exposed both physically and spiritually.
“The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden... A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 45).
This loss of the robe marked their separation from God and the onset of guilt and shame.
Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
A Christophany is a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ in the Old Testament, where Christ manifests to interact with humanity. In this verse, it says "the Lord God" (YHWH Elohim) walked in the garden. Since Christ is the visible manifestation of God in the Old Testament, this moment is understood as the pre-incarnate Christ coming to Adam and Eve after their disobedience. Throughout the Old Testament, Christ is often seen as the one who acts as the mediator between God and humans, even before His birth.
When the Bible says "the Lord God" walked in the garden, it is likely referring to Christ, who is God’s agent of interaction with humanity. However, since God the Father’s very own presence was also in Christ (as described in John 14:10, where Jesus says, "the Father who dwells in Me"), it is correct to say that God the Father was also manifesting His presence in His Son. In this way, both Christ and the Father’s presence were walking in the garden, as Christ bore the name and nature of YHWH, inheriting God's divine nature and authority. Just as a son carries his father’s name and identity, Jesus carries the name of YHWH and represents the fullness of God.
Genesis 3:9-10 (NKJV)
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
God’s question, “Where are you?” is not about His lack of knowledge but serves as a call for Adam to recognize and admit his state. Adam’s response reveals the new emotions introduced by sin—fear and shame. Instead of coming to God in confidence, Adam hides due to his awareness of his nakedness, symbolizing the broken fellowship between humanity and God caused by disobedience.
Genesis 3:11-12 (NKJV)
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
God’s questions to Adam prompt a confession, but Adam shifts the blame. Instead of taking full responsibility, he blames both Eve and indirectly God for giving him the woman. This response shows how sin disrupts relationships, leading to deflection, self-justification, and the breakdown of unity between the first humans and their Creator.
Genesis 3:13 (NKJV)
And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
When God addresses Eve, she follows Adam’s example by passing the blame to the serpent. While acknowledging her action of eating the fruit, she attributes it to being deceived. This response reveals the pervasive effects of sin—introducing dishonesty, blame-shifting, and the avoidance of personal responsibility.
Genesis 3:14 (NKJV)
So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life."
God’s pronouncement of judgment on the serpent in Genesis 3:14 highlights two significant aspects. First, the curse places the serpent in a position of ultimate humiliation, forcing it to crawl on its belly and consume dust, symbolizing degradation below all other animals. This curse extends beyond the physical serpent to Satan, the spiritual entity behind the deception, foreshadowing his eventual defeat and ongoing humiliation throughout history. The curse also introduces enmity between the serpent and humanity, initiating a spiritual battle that will continue through time.
Second, the serpent's curse reflects the broader principle of the law of consequences, where even innocent creatures can suffer due to sinful actions. Although Satan was responsible for the temptation, the serpent itself faced the consequences of its involvement, becoming cursed. This scenario illustrates how all of creation—including animals—suffers due to human sin, a theme seen throughout Scripture. Though it may seem unfair, this demonstrates the far-reaching effects of sin, where consequences can extend beyond the immediate perpetrator, impacting all of creation.
Thus, the curse on the serpent encapsulates both Satan’s defeat and the law of consequences affecting all creatures, signifying the depth and scope of sin’s impact on the world.
Genesis 3:15 (NKJV)
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
This verse, often called the Protoevangelium (the “first gospel”), is the first prophecy of a Redeemer after the fall. God declares enmity between the serpent (Satan) and the woman, and between their offspring. "Her Seed" refers specifically to Jesus Christ, who would ultimately defeat Satan, while "your seed" refers to those aligned with Satan. The "bruising of the serpent’s head" represents a decisive and fatal blow to Satan’s power, through Christ’s death and resurrection, where He defeated sin and death.
The head symbolizes not only Satan's power but also his ideology—his lies, accusations, and rebellion against God. Christ’s victory over Satan destroyed his authority and accusations (Colossians 2:15), exposing his lies and rendering his influence powerless over those who believe in Christ. The "bruising of the heel" refers to Satan’s temporary victory in causing Christ’s suffering and death on the cross, but this injury was not permanent, as Christ rose from the dead.
In sum, this verse marks the beginning of the spiritual struggle between good and evil, while also prophesying the final defeat of Satan’s influence and false ideology through the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Genesis 3:16 (NKJV)
To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”
In this verse, God outlines the consequences of sin for Eve, especially in her relationship with her husband. The phrase "Your desire shall be for your husband" is often interpreted not as a longing for closeness, but as a desire to control or dominate. This reflects the broken dynamic between men and women post-fall, where women, instead of naturally submitting to their husbands as part of a harmonious partnership, now experience a desire to rule over them. This idea aligns with Genesis 4:7, where the same word "desire" is used to describe sin’s desire to control Cain.
The second part, "he shall rule over you," suggests that the natural partnership God intended between men and women has been replaced with a hierarchical structure. Husbands now seek to dominate and rule over their wives. This introduces a power struggle within marriage—an unhealthy dynamic of control and dominance that was not part of God’s original plan. Instead of mutual cooperation, the relationship is now marked by a struggle for power, reflecting the broader brokenness and dysfunction caused by sin. This tension underscores the ongoing consequences of the fall on human relationships on the flesh realm.
Genesis 3:17-19 (NKJV)
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
Adam’s disobedience brings a curse not only on himself but also on the earth. Where work was once a joyful activity in the Garden, it now becomes toil, filled with hardship and frustration as the ground yields thorns and thistles. Life, now marked by struggle, will end in death, returning to the dust from which Adam was formed. This judgment underscores the profound consequences of sin, affecting the entire creation and human existence from that point onward. Mortality becomes humanity’s fate.
Genesis 3:20 (NKJV)
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Despite the grim judgment, there is a glimmer of hope. Adam names his wife Eve, meaning "life" or "living," acknowledging her role as the mother of all future generations. This act reflects a measure of faith in the promise that life will continue, even though death has entered the world. It also points to the hope embedded in God’s promise of redemption through her offspring.
Genesis 3:21 (NKJV)
Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
God’s provision of clothing for Adam and Eve demonstrates His ongoing care for them despite their disobedience. The fact that the clothing is made of animal skins suggests that an animal’s life was taken, which introduces the concept of sacrifice as a covering for sin. This act foreshadows the system of sacrifices later instituted in Israel and ultimately points to the sacrifice of Christ, whose death provides a permanent covering for sin.
Genesis 3:22-23 (NKJV)
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
When God says that humanity has come to "know good and evil," it refers to more than just intellectual knowledge; it signifies that Adam and Eve now experience the effects of both good and evil in their lives. Before their disobedience, they lived in a state of innocence, knowing only God's goodness. However, after eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they encountered the impact of sin—shame, guilt, and separation from God. Their lives were now marked by suffering and death, representing a fundamental change. If they had eaten from the Tree of Life after this, they would have lived forever in a fallen state. Out of mercy, God removed them from the Garden to prevent eternal separation from Him in their sinful condition. Their expulsion began a life of labor and hardship, away from the perfection of Eden.
Genesis 3:24 (NKJV)
So 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.
Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden, and God places cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the tree of life. This signifies humanity’s separation from the presence of God and the blessings of eternal life due to sin. The cherubim and the sword demonstrate that re-entry into Eden and access to the tree of life are now barred. However, this also sets the stage for God’s future plan of redemption, where access to eternal life will eventually be restored through Christ.