GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:1 The sudden arrival of a speaking SERPENT presents a challenge to the human couple. Their choice to disregard God’s instructions is an act of willful rebellion that has terrible consequences for all of creation. Nothing is said about where the serpent came from. The text d... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:2 The woman’s response echoes the divine instruction given in Genesis 2:16 (see note on 2:17), although she fails to identify the tree clearly, and she adds, “NEITHER SHALL YOU TOUCH IT.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.len... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:4 The serpent directly contradicts what God has said. He presents the fruit of the tree as something worth having. By eating it, he says, Adam and Eve will be LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. The irony of the serpent’s remarks is that Adam and Eve, unlike the serpent, were... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:6 WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD. Somehow the serpent has made the woman discontented with the permitted trees (Genesis 2:16), and she desires instead the forbidden one. Apparently she is attracted to the tree’s ability TO MAKE ONE WISE (see note on 2:17). SHE AL... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:9 THE LORD GOD CALLED TO THE MAN..., “WHERE ARE YOU?” Both “man” and “you” are singular in Hebrew. God thus confronts Adam first, holding him primarily responsible for the sin committed by both Adam and Eve. Adam is thus treated as the representative or “head” of the husban... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:14 The serpent is punished for tempting the woman. It will live in ongoing hostility with the woman, which will be carried on by their respective OFFSPRING. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:15 This verse is usually understood as pointing forward to the defeat of the serpent by the OFFSPRING (that is, a descendant) of the woman. For this reason, it has been labeled the “Protoevangelium,” that is, the first announcement of the gospel. While Genesis 1:1 does not... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:16 YOUR DESIRE SHALL BE FOR YOUR HUSBAND, AND HE SHALL RULE OVER YOU. God originally intended that there would be a complementary relationship between husband and wife, with the husband in a leadership role (see note on 2:15–16). But that plan has now been distorted and dam... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:17 Because he has eaten what was prohibited (v. Genesis 3:6), Adam will have to struggle to eat in the future. He will no longer enjoy the garden’s abundance but will have to work the ground from which he was taken (v. Genesis 3:23; see note on 2:8–9). The punishment is not... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:19 Because of his sin, the man’s body will RETURN TO THE GROUND, that is, he will die. Death was not a part of the original creation (see Romans 5:12). The Bible looks forward to a time when nature will be set free from death and the other consequences of human sin (Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:20 God’s words of judgment are immediately followed by two actions that offer hope. First, the man names his wife EVE, which means “life-giver” (see esv footnote). Second, God makes clothing for Adam and Eve, which suggests that he still cares for them. Because the clothing... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 3:22 God begins a sentence in v. Genesis 3:22 and breaks off without finishing it. For the man to eat of the TREE OF LIFE and thus LIVE FOREVER in his sinful condition is an unbearable thought, and God must waste no time in preventing it. THEREFORE THE LORD GOD SENT HIM OUT F... [ Continue Reading ]