Genesis — Chapter 3

King James Version (KJV)

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Genesis 3:1 ^RNow the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, ^TYea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Genesis 3:3 ^RBut of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Genesis 3:4 And the ^Rserpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was ^Tpleasant ^Rto the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; ^Rand he did eat.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they ^Rknew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves ^Taprons.

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the ^Tcool of the day: and Adam and his wife ^Rhid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, ^RWhere art thou?

Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Genesis 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Genesis 3:12 ^RAnd the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, ^RThe serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and ^Rdust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and ^Rher seed; ^Rit shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and ^Rthy desire shall be ^Tto thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: ^Rcursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Genesis 3:18 ^RThorns also and thistles shall it ^Tbring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: ^Rfor dust thou art, ^Rand unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name ^TEve; because she was the mother of all living.

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God ^Rmake coats of skins, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the ^Rtree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, ^Rto keep the way of the tree of life.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 3:1–7 — Temptation and Disobedience

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The serpent questions God’s command and directly contradicts God’s warning. The woman takes the fruit and eats, and gives it to her husband, who also eats. Their disobedience is followed immediately by a changed awareness of their nakedness and an attempt to cover themselves.

Key Truth: The chapter presents temptation as challenging God’s word and disobedience as bringing consequences rather than the promised good.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 3:8–13 — Hiding and Accountability

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Adam and his wife hide when they hear the LORD God in the garden. God calls to Adam and questions both the man and the woman. Adam acknowledges eating but points to the woman; the woman says the serpent beguiled her.

Key Truth: Sin disrupts fellowship and is followed here by fear, hiding, and attempts to shift responsibility.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 3:14–19 — Judgment and Consequences

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

God addresses the serpent, the woman, and Adam. The passage describes conflict, sorrow, a cursed ground, difficult labor, and human mortality. Verse 15 also introduces the conflict between the serpent and the woman’s seed, a verse that later Christian interpretation has connected with God’s redemptive work.

Key Truth: Disobedience has serious consequences affecting human relationships, work, the ground, and mortality.

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📖 What We’re Reading

Genesis 3:20–24 — Clothing and Departure from Eden

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Adam names his wife Eve. The LORD God makes coats of skins for Adam and his wife and clothes them. They are then sent out of Eden, and the way to the tree of life is guarded.

Key Truth: Genesis 3 ends with humanity outside Eden, while also recording God’s provision of clothing for Adam and Eve.

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