Genesis 1-11: A Bible Commentary Chapter 3
A Bible Commentary
By Charles R. Sabo
Introduction
The perfect creation rolled in its time to a certain point, until the time which the serpent intruded, when he manipulated the fall of mankind. Chapter 3 is not specific, as to how long it was that transpired until the serpent entered, but we must not speculate and just realize that the most important details are written for us to understand. The fall had happened before Cain and Abel were ever born, therefore the fall must have happened between, day eight (2 days after Eve was created), and the time just before the birth of Cain in Genesis 4:1. We do know that Adam was one hundred and thirty years old, when he begat Seth (Gen. 5:3), and that he had raised two sons (Cain and Abel) unto adulthood, before Seth.
It may be tempting to read more into what the Lord had inspired Moses to write, but we must first interpret it literally; beginning here in chapter 3, when the literal interpretation does not make sense, we must interpret allegory and imagery when necessary. Imagery has been used by God throughout the entire Bible, while some cases, allegory has been inserted for us to sort through. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can pray for understanding and compare allegory with what God has used elsewhere, in order to consistently apply the meaning of the allegory here (and vice versa).
The fall in the Garden of Eden not only changed mankind’s future, but the entire Creation as well. Before the fall, immortality existed for man, animals, insects, sea creatures, and even microorganisms; there was no death, before this time. The biological makeup of the entire Creation was entirely different. There were no flesh eating animals, no adversarial relationships, and no negative emotions such as fear and hate. When God saw that His Creation was “very good” (Gen. 1:31), it truly was perfect in every way. Even microorganism worked in only positive ways, which benefitted the rest of the Creation. Beasts, such as lions, tigers, and bears, were vegetarians, just as mankind was. All sea creatures ate from the abundance of plant-life in the sea, while birds also maintained an absolutely vegan like diet.
Though it may be possible for mankind to live with a completely vegan diet, once the fall had occurred, God changed the overall food processing systems of every living creature, which allowed for the consumption of meat. We will not read of mankind being allowed to eat meat until chapter 9, after the Flood of Noah. We must maintain that mankind continued as vegetarians, until God made His additional changes in His Creation, which was after the Flood.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? The Hebrew word translated as “subtil” is “?ār?m,” which is defined as: “subtle, shrewd, crafty, sly.” This use of the noun “serpent” becomes the first potential imagery used here in the Bible. Though it seems to be imagery, verse 3:14 indicates that the serpent was cursed to proceed on its belly and eat dust for its entire life; this is the serpent of today known as a snake. The majority of theologians refer to this serpent to be actually Satan’s first appearance in the Creation. I concur, and realize that this may be a demonic possession of a serpent. As we have already discussed, it may be that God created the angels (heavenly [military] host) within the six-day creation (Gen. 2:1). While Satan was formerly called Lucifer (Is. 14:12) before he fell from heaven, he was also worship leader in heaven before that time.
13 You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes was prepared in you in the day that you were created.
14 You are the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set you so: you were upon the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you. (Ezek. 28:13-15)
Genesis 3:1 points out that Satan was more shrewd than any beast of the field, which can be ascertained to be even more than any snake itself, which the Lord God had made. He went into the Creation with a purpose in mind, if you understand how evil has worked. It was no misunderstanding between Satan and the woman, because this demon possessed serpent was shrewd in his endeavors. He chose the woman as the one of whom he would attempt to deceive. Not that he was all knowing, but it can be ascertained that he already knew of the grapevine affect in place, going from a command from God to Adam, then to the woman.
Satan first asked the woman the setup question: “Yea, hath God said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” The motivation of his question is, nothing other than, to bring confusion and doubt into her mind. She had no idea what evil was, which a lie (or deceit) can come out of. She was absolutely ignorant of evil motives, because she had not been taught what evil was as of yet. In review, God had never warned the woman of the eating of certain trees in the garden, but had warned Adam (the man).
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17)
The woman had only the information from hearsay, which can cause problems in recollection. The Apostle Paul wrote of this ability to be deceived, which women have been known to be cursed in their complete understanding of the word of God. Men have been given the word of God throughout history, while women have hearsay of those words. Paul implied that a woman is not to teach the word of God to men, because like Eve, she can be deceived.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Tim. 2:12-14)
From the first deceit in human history, the woman caused man to sin, because she was deceived by Satan of the truth of God’s word. Most woman are offended by the realization of this theological truth, while their pride denies that it is true; amazingly, we witness female theologians and pastors attempting to be equals with men in teaching the Bible to others. Not only is it a sin for a woman to attempt to teach God’s word to men, but is a sin for men to listen to a woman in her theological perspectives. A woman should put aside her pride of her womanhood and be obedient to God’s word in what the Apostle Paul has been inspired to command. The motive for all Christians should be to not attempt to be “politically correct,” but in obedience to God’s commands.
Genesis 3:2-3 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: Verses 2 and 3 should be read together, since it is one quote from the woman and should be separated with a comma (,).
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.” The woman quoted correctly in verse 3:2 according to what was said to Adam in verse 2:16, but she may have added to what God said in verse 2:17, while she recalled what Adam had commanded her. As Adam was warning the woman to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, he may have been so adamant that he also commanded his wife to not even touch it. I can hear him in my imagination commanding his wife: “do not even touch it!” Satan took advantage of the hearsay, which usually can be slightly misquoted (grapevine affect), and used it to bring doubt into the mind of the woman. Though it may not even be an issue, the woman was not specific in mentioning just the one Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Remember, the Tree of Life was also in the midst of the garden, which she may not have felt that she could eat of, nor touch as well. The Hebrew noun used for both “tree” and “trees” is the same noun “?ē?.” It was the translators who assumed that she was speaking of the one tree (and used the singular pronoun “it”), when it is possible Adam communicated to not eat of, nor touch the trees (and pronoun “them”) in the midst of the garden. With that in mind, the assumptions by the translators were influenced by the last phrase “lest you die.” If the woman was commanded by her husband to not touch of the “trees in the midst of the garden,” then she could have even thought of both trees causing death. It is not really an issue, which would change the theology, but we must most importantly understand that the woman was repeating what was commanded by Adam.
Genesis 3:4-5 4And the serpent said unto the woman, “You shall not surely die: Verses 4 and 5 should be read together, since it is one quote from Satan and should be separated with a comma (,).
5 For (because) God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Satan had said: “You shall not surely die, because God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Satan, while being shrewd, provided lies, mixed in with a specific truth. It could be that Satan already knew mankind was made in God’s image, and that God was eventually going to teach mankind good and evil. Little did Satan know, that God used him as the intruder and tempter, in order to cause the fall in the garden. Those off you, who think God was caught by surprise in the garden, and that He did not know what Satan was going to do, actually believe in an inferior god. The all-knowing (omniscient) Lord God of heaven had planned for the fall, so that His people (children of God) could be wise to the difference between good and evil, as well as appreciate how good He is. Many will ask: “Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil even there, if it was not to be eaten from?” It proves that God had a plan, and it happened just as He willed it to.
The shrewdness of Satan first suggested that God was not being truthful to them, when Satan stated “You shall not surely die.” Once again, the woman did not know what evil was, therefore she felt she could trust the words of Satan. Because it was hearsay from Adam, she may have trusted what Satan was saying, while not even knowing what a lie was. The woman was absolutely na?ve to even suspect anything could not be true, if someone had advised her of anything. Satan backed up his statement with the reason that he had implied that God was not telling them the whole truth. Satan implied that God did not want them to eat of the tree, because He knew that once they had eaten of the tree, they would know good and evil and be as a god, like God was. The deception was that these immortal humans did not even know what death was, yet the logic was that they would eat of it and not die, yet then know good and evil. Notice that the reasoning, “in the day you eat thereof” was deceiving, because Adam lived another 930 years until he eventually died a physical death. Ignorance was the killer! If the woman was ignorant of what a lie was, she had to believe everything that is being said to her. If she was being told that when she eats the fruit of this tree, she shall be as a god, then she assumed that it must have been true. Hmmm…if I eat of this tree, I will be a god. Many false religions have sprung up by this same concept; mankind wants to be godlike.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to 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; and he did eat. We should see that the woman fell to the three sinful temptations, which even has caused mankind to fall through the generations to the present age. She fell victim to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and to the pride of life. Satan has used these three temptations to influence many through the ages to stumble and fall. The fruit of the tree was good for food to feed her flesh, pleasant to the lust of her eyes, while the desire to make her wise would fulfill her pride of life.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:16-17)
The woman’s lusts caused her to disobey her husband as she touched the tree, took the fruit, and did eat of it. Though it is not disclosed how far away Adam was at this time, she obviously felt compelled to find him, or he may have approached her. Did he call for her and she waved him over, or did he see her in the midst of the garden and came to see what she was doing there? The ambiguity is apparent, but the conversation was only between the serpent and the woman; the verse discloses that she gave also unto her husband with her. We cannot make the assumption that Adam was there the whole time, because Adam would have stepped in and corrected the woman in her misquote. He would also have not been deceived by Satan, because it is the woman who has been said to be gullible, and not Adam. “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Tim. 2:14)
It has been speculated that Adam may have felt that if the woman were punished, God would have punished her and taken her away from Adam. He may have feared being without a companion once again. He listened to his wife and did eat, after she gave him the fruit. Adam knew of the consequences and ate anyway, which put his relationship with his wife above his relationship with God. This should be a lesson to all men, listen to God first, then to their wife second.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Referring back to verse 3:5, when Satan provided half-truths with his persuasive deception, some of what he had said came true. The eyes of both Adam and the woman were opened (metaphorically) and then realized what evil was. They knew that they were naked and felt shame. Shame is sometimes a good thing, because it brings about a contrite heart; in this case, the shame was because they knew what lust, shame, criticism, and adversarial feelings were. Because of their shame, they were too embarrassed to be seen naked, so they felt compelled to cover themselves up. It is a mystery to me, where they picked up the knowledge of sewing, when they had never made themselves garments before. In paradise, they would not have needed a tent for shelter. It could be just as simple as tying leave stems together, until it resembles an apron as Moses has written.
Because I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Rom. 7:9)
The Apostle Paul revealed a similar eye opening experience when he realized his guilt and shame as he realized the Laws of Moses that he had broken. He was blinded from his guilt (alive), until his eyes were opened to the law. He became contrite when he felt his shame and he died in his flesh metaphorically, because his realization brought forth his guilt.
Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice 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 amongst the trees of the garden. This particular verse has layers of theology within it to unravel. First, since God is to be realized as a Triune Godhead, I ask: “which person of the Godhead walked through the garden in the cool of the day?”
No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. (Jn. 1:18)
Since no man (including Adam) has ever seen God the Father at any time, we should understand that only the Son has seen Him and declared of His existence. Jesus Christ was quoted in John 6:46 that “Not that any man has seen the Father, save he which is of God, he has seen the Father.” If no man had ever seen the Father, on this side of heaven, then it has to be God the Son who was walking through the garden in the cool of the day. If you still are not convinced, then let’s go back to Moses himself. We can read in Exodus 24:9-10, that Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel all saw the God of Israel sitting on His throne. Meanwhile, in Exodus 33:17-23, Moses was not able to see God the Father’s face and live. “And He said, ‘You cannot see my face, because there shall no man see me, and live.’” (Ex. 33:20) The only logical explanation is exactly as Jesus had said, in that, no man has ever seen the Father, but Him. Therefore, the pre-incarnate Son of God was the One that walked through the garden in the cool of the day.
Adam and the woman heard the voice of the Lord God (pre-incarnate Jesus) and they panicked. They ran and hid from God, whom they had already a personal relationship with. They actually were in fear of Him, because of what they had done. Was it that God had said that they would die? Though they did not know the extent of the conditions of death, they feared God and ran. They chose to flee from Him, rather than to seek His help and forgiveness; this is a condition of what is known as Human Moral Depravity. When a person attempts to reason in how the “free will” of Adam can be explained, before the fall in the Garden of Eden, it can be speculated that Adam was left to his own judgment of what was good and evil. To obey God, or not to obey, was Adam’s choice. He made a bad decision without fallen flesh to influence him. Johnathan Edwards is quoted in his writings:
It seemed good to the all-wise Creator to leave our first parents to themselves and their own strength, and the mutability of their wills, and not to vouchsafe them an extraordinary aid and power. He might have hindered the Fall, but He would not. Though He knew they would miscarry without the assistance of special grace, yet He was not pleased to confer it upon them.[1]
Edwards continued on to insist that after the fall in the garden, the human intellect is disordered and impaired while man’s human will is significantly defected. He goes on to declare that after the fall in the garden, human beings have lost that “self-determining power” over spiritual matters.[2]
The depravity of man is his inability to love God, as well as his inability to achieve the holiness of God. Arguments are made that man can realize his depraved condition without God revealing this condition to him. There is also an argument that expresses that it is a man’s own free will that enables him to understand his own depravity and a resultant need of God’s mercy. I argue that the moral nature of mankind is a resultant of the fall, as described in Genesis 3, and the total depravity of man is a condition that cannot be recognized or understood without divine intervention. Therefore, the legacy of this fall, and the resultant depravity, remains until a supernatural event transpires to change each human’s ability to see their own depravity and recognize their need for divine intervention.
To first understand the depravity of man, one needs to understand how it came to be and to what extent it affects each person. The moral depravity of man has been a part of human history as far back as books will tell. Genesis 3 speaks of the first sin, which happened in the Garden of Eden. Mankind has fallen into a curse in a world that has fallen from perfection, due to that first sin committed by Adam. No longer a perfect Creation, the world had fallen and has been victimized to a state of misery, which is caused by that first sin. To avoid misery, mankind resorts to cheating, lying and even murder. The corruption of man causes other terrible events; eventually God’s judgments are cast upon the Earth, which causes even more misery, while mankind then chooses the same cheating, lying and murder to avoid their own misery. God can see that everything in humankind’s heart is continuously evil.[3] “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
Adam and his wife transformed from immortals to mortals in the one moment that Adam had disobeyed God and eaten of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Remember, the woman disobeyed her husband when she ate the fruit, but it was Adam who disobeyed God’s command. That is the sin that transformed the perfect Creation into a fallen, corrupted version of itself; God’s command to not eat of that tree came with a warning, they would die if they did eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:17); death entered into the entirety of the Creation.
Having become mortals, it meant that Adam and his wife could experience death, which means their complete biological structure had changed. Because blood is the life (Gen. 9:6), their bodies became dependent upon its existence within them; they then gained the need for a pump for that blood, kidneys to clean that blood, a stomach and intestinal track to digest food to feed the blood the nutrients that is needed for each cell to live; they gained lungs to take oxygen into the blood, in order to supply each cell in the body. Though they theologically had gained the breath of life when first created (Gen. 2:7), they had no need for oxygen to maintain their life until after the fall. Though they did eat before the fall, they did not need food and its nutrients in order to live. Their immortality (before the fall) did not need the nutrients of the food, until after the fall. If blood was in their immortal bodies, what purpose did it serve? It is obvious that they had no blood, because blood is the sustainer of mortal life.
Because this major physiological transformation had occurred, Adam and his wife became the first to experience Human Moral Depravity. They no longer felt the closeness to God that they once had. They feared God and suspected that He would inflict evil upon them. They felt they could no longer trust God, so they ran and hid from Him. (Adam and his wife hid 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, “Where are you?” Truly, an omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God already knew exactly what had just happened and exactly where Adam and his wife were. Just as a human father will seek out his children that are hiding from him, he will call them, in order to give them the opportunity to come forth on their own. In their minds, they think to themselves: “Oh ohhhh, we are busted.”
Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Adam came forth, as most children will, because they know that it is inevitable that they face their crimes. Adam (he) came forward and explained only why he was hiding. Like a child, he only divulged enough information to explain his behavior that was unusual; he was hopeful that it would be enough to get him off the hook. His alibi had holes in it; why would he suddenly be afraid of His Father, who made him as a naked man without any shame of it? Why would he feel fear, when fear is one of the emotions that evil brings? The shame of being naked was also an emotion derived from evil. Running from God is the main attribute of Human Moral Depravity.
Genesis 3:11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?” Once again, as God asked the question, He already knew the answer. He gave Adam the opportunity to confess His sin. Confession comes from the realization of one’s guilt of their sins. The fact Adam was hiding from God, and that he felt shame of his nakedness, provided evidence of his guilt, thus God brought this to Adam’s attention. Yikes! Busted! Adam is to now realize that the Lord put it together already! He couldn’t squirm out of this!
Genesis 3:12 And the man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Though what Adam had explained was true, he actually pointed the blame onto both the woman and onto God, Himself (The woman whom you gave to be with me). This was not the kind of confession that God was looking for, when the admission of guilt points at being influenced by someone else.
The guilt of Adam was inexcusable, especially when it comes to being obedient to God. Mankind has been pointing blame on others throughout history, which stems back to the first bio-dad, Adam. A true believer in Christ should always face their guilt and avoid blame onto all others involved. The lust of Adam’s new flesh and blood, manifested into his cover-up and attempt to point blame onto others. Adam had become a slave to sin and lost his own free will. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.” (Rom. 6:12) In order to save his own skin, Adam pointed blame onto the others.
Genesis 3:13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, “What is this that you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” Once again, as the scolding Parent, the Lord God asked the question, while expecting a true confession from His child. “What is this that you have done?” Once again, the finger pointing continued from the woman. She placed the blame on the serpent (Satan) as she admitted to eating the fruit. “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” The Hebrew verb “nā?ā'” was translated for the verb “beguiled,” which is defined as: “deceived.” The woman pointed the blame at Satan, accusing him of deceiving her. The Lord God (Jesus) listened to the testimonies as the Judge, with His sentencing to follow.
In Genesis 3:4, the shrewdness of Satan first suggested that God was not being truthful to them, when Satan stated “You shall not surely die.” Once again, the woman did not know what evil was, therefore she felt she could trust the words of Satan. Because it was hearsay from Adam, she may have trusted what Satan was saying, while not even knowing what a lie was. Satan backed up his statement with the reason that he had implied that God was not telling them the whole truth. Satan implied that God did not want them to eat of the tree, because He knew that once they had eaten of the tree, they would know good and evil and be as a god, like He was. The deception was that these immortal humans did not even know what death was, yet the logic was that they would eat of it and not die, yet then know good and evil. Notice that the reasoning from Satan in Genesis 3:5, “in the day you eat thereof” was deceiving, because Adam lived another 930 years until he eventually died a physical death. Ignorance was the killer! If the woman was ignorant of what a lie was, she had to believe everything that is being said to her. If she was being told that when she eats the fruit of this tree, she shall be as a god, then she assumed that it must have been true. Hmmm…if I eat of this tree, I will be a god. Many false religions have sprung up by this same concept; mankind wants to be godlike.
Genesis 3:14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life: The Judge was finished listening to the testimonies, though He did not need them, and declared His judgments upon the guilty. The omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent Lord God already knew exactly what had just happened; the testimonies are given to us as information to understand how morally depraved Adam and his wife had become.
First, the Lord placed judgment unto the serpent, which can be interesting to understand. The judgment in this verse 3:14 was against the physical body of the serpent, while verse 3:15 was made against Satan. Before the fall, the serpent (snake) use to have legs like a lizard has. The snake had been cursed to lose its legs, slither upon his belly, and eat the dust of the Earth all the days of his life. A person has to understand Satan did not shapeshift into a snake, but demonically possessed the serpent. If Satan shapeshifted into a snake, God would not have placed judgment against an innocent species, thus this judgment would have been made against Satan only. But in what has been disclosed in the Bible, Satan does not slither on his belly on the Earth eating dust, while an actual snake does. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:14) The species called “snake” has been cursed by the Lord, because he took part in the deception of mankind, being demonically possessed by Satan. In all cases of demonic possession, the person (or thing being possessed) is still aware of what is happening and what is being said to it. Verse 3:14 was spoken directly to the snake.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shalt bruise his heel. Here is the first messianic prophecy in the Bible. The Hebrew noun “'ê?a” was translated as “enmity,” which is also defined as “hatred.” The Judge then placed judgment against Satan. Unlike verse 3:14, this judgment was specifically spoken to the fallen angel named Satan, who had demonically possessed the serpent. First, the Lord God has put hatred between Satan and the woman (Eve). Second, the hatred will be between the “seed” of Satan and the “seed” of the woman. Third, the “seed” of the woman will bruise the head of Satan, while the “seed” of Satan will bruise the heel of the “seed” of the woman.
The Hebrew noun “zera?” is translated as “seed,” which is defined as: “offspring, descendants, posterity, children.” We can look at the “seed” of Satan to be one (or both) of two definitions. It can be, that Satan has mated with human women, as did the angels of Genesis 6 had, to produce a bloodline of descendants; it can also be the posterity of the satanic occult, which resembles the posterity of God (His believers). But, this does not work in the interpretation, because the satanic occult (posterity of Satan) exists within the posterity of the woman, since she is the mother of all mankind. They cannot be at enmity against themselves.
The interpretation of the Hebrew noun “zera?” needs to be consistent throughout the verse. The context of the noun “seed” has to be contextually the same between Satan and the woman in this verse. If the seed of the woman is her offspring literally, then the seed of Satan has to be interpreted as his physical offspring as well. Satan’s own physical offspring has been manifested by his own seed (sperm), which is his reproductive seed that fertilizes the reproductive egg of a female. The reproductive egg (seed) of the woman (Eve) has to be her offspring, being all mankind. In the case here in this verse, the offspring of the woman is manifested by her reproductive egg, therefore the seed of Satan has to be the reproductive sperm (seed) from Satan as well.
The manifestation of mankind, being made in the image of Satan would be literally from his seed (reproductive sperm). Satan mimics God in all that he can, because to be like God is his desire. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Is. 14:14) The manifestation of the occult may be through the offspring of Satan (made in Satan’s image), which then becomes his bloodline of believers in him being their god. The statement made here in Genesis 3:15 may be implying that the offspring of Satan manifests and will feel hatred towards the offspring of the woman (made in God's image), which is every other human being. This concept is very consistent in reflecting what has been going on within the world all along. The murder, inflicted disease, and evil afflictions against mankind, specifically by those of the satanic realm, can be seen throughout history.
The second sentence of this verse then becomes very interesting to interpret. “it shall bruise your head, and you shalt bruise his heel.” The translators have misinterpreted the Hebrew verb “??p?” (?????), which has been inflected in a third person masculine verb “??????????.” It is more accurately interpreted as “he shall bruise.” We know that God was speaking to Satan in verse 3:15, so this statement implies that a male offspring from the woman (Eve) will bruise/crush the head of Satan (your head).
The second clause then addresses additional information concerning this male offspring of the woman and Satan (and you shalt bruise his heel). In addition (and), Satan (you) will bruise/crush his heel. The translators got the inflected gender of the Hebrew noun “?āqē?” (??????) correct in the second clause (his heel).
The interpretation of this contains allegorical imagery being conveyed concerning the two (Satan and the male-gendered seed of the woman). This became a prophecy of something that was to happen in the future, thus the prophecy was sure to occur, because the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God had declared it. Satan’s belief in God’s power is to be understood, in that Satan’s main objective was to prevent this male-gendered offspring from manifesting a bruising blow upon him (your head). Truly the bruising blow was not intended to be a literal blow upon Satan’s physical head, but allegorical imagery is to be understood to be a bruising blow upon Satan’s existence. As we continue through Genesis 1-11, we will find certain occurrences that will occur, which reflect the efforts of Satan; his efforts to thwart the endeavors of God, to bring forth this male-gendered person (offspring of the woman), are apparent as one reads through the Bible.
This male person (offspring of the woman) should be understood to be God’s Messiah, who will strike a crippling blow upon Satan, thus cause Satan’s efforts to manifest desperately. The prophecies of the Messiah can be seen throughout the Old Testament, providing clues to His coming. Once the Messiah had come (first advent), it was Satan who used the Pharisees and scribes to bring the torture and crucifixion of him (Messiah). It was Satan who demonically possessed Judas Iscariot (Luke 22:3) to cause him to betray Jesus the Messiah, and hand Him over to the evil Pharisees. It was the Pharisees who Jesus had accused to be of their father, the devil.
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (Jn. 8:44)
Truly, the torture and crucifixion of the Messiah was this allegorical bruising of the heel of this male-gendered offspring of the woman. The endeavors of Satan have been motivated to prevent God’s fulfillment of this prophecy, which in the end, Satan will lose his life and die in the “lake of fire.” The allegorical crushing of the head of Satan was first inflicted by the victory on the cross at Calvary. When Messiah came and died for the sins of His believers, it was the first blow towards Satan’s final fate. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Rev. 20:10)
Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over you. Then God placed His judgments against the woman, who was deceived into her sin. Her sin was an indirect rebellion against God, while she had first hand disobeyed her husband. God was not the One who commanded the woman to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but it was Adam who had commanded his wife (see my commentary 3:2-3). Interestingly, this verse has been used as a means for men to enslave a woman unto his desires, while he dominates over her. Walter A. Elwell provides an interesting context for the interpretation to this verse. “This was a divine description of what would occur, not a mandate that obedient servants of God should attempt to carry out.”[4] Elwell makes a statement, which seems to conflict with writings of the Apostle Paul. Paul had given direction to the church that a woman is to be obedient to their husband, which would mean that this is a mandate; is Paul referencing back to what God has indicated in Genesis 3:16? Being uninspired by the Holy Spirit, Elwell demonstrates what mankind will usually do, while interpreting what God has said. It is not desirable for a woman to obey the word of God, while conforming to be submissive to her husband; but, the word of God provides clear instruction for them. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, provides direction which reveals that God has ordained His decree onto all women.
The curse against the woman was brought forth towards all women, who would be this woman’s offspring. The Hebrew noun “hērāy?n” was used, which the translators used the noun “conception.” This Hebrew noun “hērāy?n” is actually better translated as “pregnancy.” The noun “conception” is derived from its root word conceive, which would make this the result of conceiving. This curse was not meant for the act of conceiving, but the result of it. The sorrow was to manifest greatly, while Moses used the Hebrew verb “rā?a” twice consecutively, which is translated as “greatly multiply.” All women, who have given birth to a child, can conclude that this is very accurately stated, when their sorrow in childbearing is very, very sorrowful. (in sorrow you shall bring forth children)
The word “desire” can be looked at in two perspectives. It can be interpreted to be a woman’s sexual desires for man, or it could be that she will have desires to be with her man and be ruled over; I see it as the latter. God did not make any reference to a man’s sexual desires within these verses in Genesis; meanwhile, we all know that men certainly have strong sexual desires for women. If we reflect back through human history, we see that a woman will rule over a man, because of his sexual desires for her. The desire, which man has for a woman, can bring a man into utter destruction; this, at the same time, gives a woman the upper hand over a man; he is compelled to sacrifice everything to have her. Genesis 3:16 provides an effect that God put upon a woman, which causes her to desire a man to protect her and to have as her companion. It is a built-in guarantee that procreation will occur and the population of God’s Kingdom will grow. One can see before either a boy or girl goes into puberty, the girl will be interested in boys a few years before a boy experiences desires for a girl. This tendency shows that “desire” from Genesis 3:16.
In a sense, the first clause of Genesis 3:16, may be the opening thought which points to the following clause spoken by God. The following line, “and he will rule over you,” is really the core of the mandate by God. Men are the head of the marriage between man and wife. Women have been mandated to allow for her man to rule over her in life decisions. The woman (Eve) failed to hearken unto the command from her husband to not eat of the tree.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Eph. 5:22-25)
A person should understand that the two clauses of Genesis 3:16 are related. In fact, the clauses of the entire verse should be looked at together, as being intricately related to one another. “That this ‘desire’ was given to alleviate the sorrows of childbearing and to bind the hearts of husband and wife ever more closely together.”[5] Has God used this sorrow in bringing forth children, as His method to keep a man and woman by each other’s side together? Truly the blessing of the newborn child makes it all worth it for the woman to endure her sorrow. Confirming what God has implied, one can research and then understand that not any other life in the creation has such a burden as this (in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children).
Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, “Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it:’ cursed is the ground for you sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;” The Judge turned to Adam and placed His judgment against him. Unfortunately, once again, the judgment was placed upon all of the male offspring of Adam as well. Genesis 3:17 provides us with the reason for the fall of mankind. Because God had commanded Adam (not Eve) to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, his disobedience of God’s commandment has brought the curse upon the world. Notice God makes His comment: “Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife;” this comment by God has spiritual significance.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with sobriety. (1 Tim. 2:11-15)
1 Timothy 2:11-15 is one of the most rejected passages, by woman, in all of Scripture. The pride which many woman feel, forbids them from accepting this spiritual truth. God implied in Genesis 3:17 that it was unacceptable for Adam to “hearken unto the voice of his wife.” The Apostle Paul confirms God’s position, concerning a man making spiritual decisions, based on the voice of a woman. Women can teach other females spiritual truths, but are to keep silent, when faced with advising a man. Yes, this can be considered a sin, if a woman does not obey this position which God has made. Men are in sin for “hearkening” unto the spiritual advice of a woman. Paul stated in 1 Timothy 2:14, that Adam was not deceived, yet the woman was. The woman’s sin was not the sin which brought the fall of mankind, but it was Adam’s disobedience of God, which was that Creation shaking sin. Interestingly, Paul confirmed God’s position concerning a woman’s number one righteous task for God; as she is in faith (in God), love and holiness, she will be saved through her childbearing. Through her faith in God, she will bear children; this obedience brings God the glory, as His eternal kingdom grows in population.
The consequences which men face is first explained by the Lord in verse 17, then moves onto the following two verses. “cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;” First, God cursed the ground, because of Adam’s sin. Originally, God provided Adam and his wife with all that they could eat in the Garden of Eden; they did not have the burden of working for a living. The “curse” of the ground is complex, yet simple. Men will struggle while working for their food; this is easy to understand, yet the complexity is thrown into many facets; bacteria, diseases, pests, draughts, extreme weather conditions, and floods bring difficulties to mankind’s hardship; truly, we are faced with sorrow.
Genesis 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field; Verse 18 continues from verse 17; it elaborates the hardships which will be encountered, as mankind tends to his hard labor towards his survival. “Thorns and Thistles” has spiritual meaning, which should be considered. When we first attempt to interpret this, we visualize literal thorns and thistles. But, looking at other Scripture, we can come to realize that there is a deeper meaning.
15The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. (Prov. 15:19)
5Thorns and thistles are in the way of the perverted: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them. (Prov. 22:5)
Certain passages in the Scriptures have references toward thorns, which imply unrighteousness, or undesirable fruits of sinful living. Jesus wore a crown of thorns, while on the cross (Matt. 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2, 5). He spoke of thorns within His teachings. “You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matt. 7:16) The crown of thorns is symbolic of Jesus bearing the curse for man, dealing with sin and death, which had intruded into the Creation.
The Hebrew noun “?ē?e?” was used by Moses and translated as “herb.” The best definition of this Hebrew noun is “green plants.” The first day of the farmer was here. After having God provide all that Adam was to eat, while in the Garden of Eden, Adam was to then eat green plants from a cursed ground (and you shall eat the herb of the field). In the Passover meal, the Jews prepared and ate “bitter herbs” (Ex. 12:8). Remember, it was the fruit of the trees that were given as food initially (Gen. 1:29); from this point at the fall, God initiated that man eat of the herbs of the field also, which would be bitter as he sweat daily to grow them.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return unto the ground; for out of it you were you taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return. As mankind works for a living, he works hard, while he sweats through his hardships (In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread); this will go on until he dies, then he will return to the ground as the dust from which he was created (for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return); this statement is the first realization of death for Adam and his wife, which was to come to all mankind. Before the fall in the garden, there was no death, so Adam and his wife would have never returned to the ground as the dust, from which they were made (Gen. 2:7). Fly larva (maggots) would become a major mode of deterioration of flesh on a dead corpse. Bacteria were changed into aggressive microorganisms, which were needed for deterioration of all corrupted flesh. A dead corpse would then be eaten by these microorganisms, decaying the flesh into dust.
The realization might have been difficult to first accept, that they were no longer eternal beings; they lost their immortality! Their mortality could be felt within them, as their life sustaining blood rushed through their bodies. What a shock it might have been, cutting themselves for the first time, thus witnessing the redness of their blood. From this point, realizing evil brought their heart racing within them, as it pumped the blood that was keeping them alive. Even the woman, would have experienced (for the first time) her menstruation cycle, while Adam would experience a loss of breath for the first time, while tending to his crops. Adam would ask himself “what is this salty water coming from my brow,” as he worked to his own exhaustion for the first time.
Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. No, the woman did not name herself, but was named by her husband. This is the first time that the wife of Adam was given a name. God named her as “woman,” (Gen. 2:22) but Adam chose to call her a name based on what he felt her mortal duty was to be. Adam declared her the mother of all of the living; “Eve” is derived from the Hebrew noun “?a?a,” which is defined as “living.”
It can be construed to be that the expression “mother of all living” is just who she was, which would be the mother of every human being ever born. Though it may be the intentions here, but the passage does not say “all mankind,” but “all the living.” Adam had just been given the news of the judgment against him and the entire Creation. It may have been a few days, after the judgments were declared, when Adam stated this here in verse 3:20. It may be that he had been preparing his work in the field, when he had found dead creatures for the first time. In mourning for them, he may have had a contrite heart over his sin, when he listened to his wife and disobeyed the Lord. He could have realized that he was the reason for the death that had come into the Creation; he could be realized to be the “father of death.”
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:28)
This may have been Adam’s appointment unto his wife, to rule over all living of the planet for the rest of her life. As he looked at himself as to the reason of death overall life, he may have realized that his wife could bring forth life through childbearing. He may have honored her existence as a giver of life. Meanwhile, Adam was busy tending to the crops, so they could eat and continue to stay alive. He went from immortal to becoming a hard-working farmer and became too busy to father over all of the living. He also, for a time, may have even been burying the dead creatures out of his own guilt. We cannot be dogmatic about any of this, but if any of us were in his place, we might have an idea of what we would feel. Adam honored his wife and called her the mother of all living, because of her ability to give life.
Interestingly, the pagans of history never called the mother of all life of the planet, Eve, but had chosen mother-nature instead. The pagans have worshiped the false goddess of nature as the mother of it, yet never realized that the mother of all the living was Eve. Having once been an immortal, Eve became mortal, before ever being recognized to be mother of all living. Eve was a mortal, and not a goddess, because she died and returned to the dust of the Earth. It always has been the Lord God of heaven that has been in control of nature all along.
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. It seems that the fig leaves were not acceptable unto the Lord. God would have had to kill an animal, in order to make these coats of skins (animal hides) to cover (clothe) them. This may have been extremely shocking to them, to have these skins, from the formerly alive animals, put over their body parts. I ask myself: “Did they watch the animals die before this?” These animals may have been the first living creatures to ever die in the Creation.
The spiritual intent here, and the reason that this is mentioned, should be pondered upon and realized. Adam and Eve had judgments put upon them for their crimes, but their sins needed to be atoned for. Forgiveness comes at a price, when it is sin against the Most High God. Something must die, in the place of the sinner, so that their mortal lives may continue and their chance at everlasting life will remain. They had begun their journey as mortals, while seeking everlasting life, which they had lost. “And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.” (Lev. 16:9)
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 tree of life, and eat, and live forever:” Allegorical symbolism was inserted within this statement between the Godhead.
The phrase “is become as one of us” is translated from two inflected Hebrew verbs; the expression “is become as one” in Hebrew is “echad” inflected as ????????, while “of us” is translated from the Hebrew word “miménu” ?????????; this is a first-person plural personal pronoun. The original Hebrew text denotes a plurality of the Lord God (Y?hovah Elohiym) who seems to be speaking to another, while referring to them being “us,” as similar members within the same group. Ignorant Jews twist and make excuses towards this script, which Moses had intentionally inserted for them to realize. Disbelief (in the three Persons of the Godhead) would be less significant, if the Jews had acknowledged this plurality in the beginning.
This conversation between the Triune Godhead is a prophecy, as well as the solution to the mortality of mankind. The reality is that mankind now knows good and evil, which was intentional from the start. The manifestation of the children of God had to consist of this knowledge, as they endeavor in this fallen world. The training and sanctification of the saints began here at the fall in the garden. To be true children of God, the saints must endure through an evil, fallen world, which will put them through tests and trials. The trial first begins with knowing good and evil, then finding the way back to immortality. The “way” back to this symbolic Tree of Life, will enable the saints to live forever (immortality). If a person trusts in the word of God, they will achieve everlasting life. By trusting in the New Covenant, the trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (2nd Person of the Triune Godhead) will bring everlasting life. The symbolism is expressed here as: “if mankind put forth (?āla?) his hand (yā?) and take (lāqa?) also of the Tree (?ē?) of Life (?ay) and eat ('ā?al) and live (?āyay) forever (?lām).
Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Between the Old Testament Saints and the New Testament Saints, trust in God’s words has been the key to salvation. The Old Covenant consisted of performing the sacrificial sin atonement rituals, while in trust that they would be in God’s favor; the New Covenant consists of trusting the testimonies written that Jesus Christ died as an atonement for a believer’s sins. If mankind does not trust in God and His word, they will never live forever with Him. The symbolic eating of the Tree of Life can only be, the putting forth of a person’s trust in God’s word, which will provide them with everlasting life. The endeavor is complicated by this fallen world and its coercions against the truth of God’s word. While searching for everlasting life (putting forth his hand) and dodging the temptations of evil, mankind can eat of the Tree of Life (trusting God’s word), which will cause that person to live forever. Jesus Christ is the Word of God (Jn. 1:1-14), and believing in Him is to trust in Him.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26)
Genesis 3:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Because of what was disclosed within the previous statement, the Lord God had therefore sent him (Adam) forth from the Garden of Eden, to begin to till the ground from where he was taken (the dust). Ironically, Adam was made from the dust (Gen. 2:7) and had to till the ground, which is the same dust that he was made from. Mankind still today tills this same ground (basic elements of the Earth), which we are all made from. Ever since that catastrophic day, the Garden of Eden would no longer be where mankind would dwell.
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, to keep the way of the tree of life. After God drove Adam out of paradise, He performed these two allegorical tasks. No need for an “s” on the end of the noun Cherubim, since it is already the plural for of the noun “Cherub.” The pronoun “he” refers back to the previous proper noun “Lord God” from previous verse. The Lord God had drove out the man (Adam) and He (Lord God) placed at the east side (east of), outside of the Garden of Eden, multiple Cherub angels (Cherubim); along with the Cherubim, the Lord God placed a flaming sword, which turned in every direction (turned every way) to keep (protect) the way to the Tree of Life.
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (Matt. 7:13)
The allegorical imagery written here represents conditions in finding the way to the Tree of Life. The flaming sword represents the flaming destruction that each person will face, as they attempt to find the way, by using a different path other than the one true way. Many false religions have attempted to take their own path to everlasting life, but as they follow that wrong way, they are destined to die an everlasting death. “Jesus said unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.’” (Jn. 14:6) Jesus, who is God the Son, stated that He is the way. The Great I Am (Jesus) stated that He is who He is. “And God said unto Moses, ‘I Am That I Am:’ and he said, ‘Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I Am has sent me unto you.’” (Ex. 3:14) The Great I AM declared that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and because of that, He is the only Way to the Tree of Life.
The spiritual context, concerning the Cherubim, is that the Cherubim have been assigned the task in protecting the true children of God from dying too soon, before they find their way to the Tree of Life.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. (Rev. 1:16)
Jesus explained to John what the seven stars represent, which He held in His right hand, within Revelation 1:20. The seven stars are the angels (aggelos) of the seven churches. The seven churches, referred to within Revelation 1-3, are not just of that era that the names of the churches existed; they represent the seven types of churches and believers, who will have existed, between the day of Christ’s resurrection and the time of the rapture (harpazo). According to Jesus Christ, the people of the seven churches have angels, who watch over them. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:14) The ministering spirits of Hebrews 1:14, refers back to the angels (aggelos) of Hebrews 1:13. Even if someone has not yet believed, they are still being protected by a guardian angel, so they will someday live to that day of their calling unto belief. “Because He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all of your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)
Furthermore, the location “east of Eden” is where the flaming sword and the Cherubim have been placed, because they make sure only those who trust in God’s word find their way to paradise (Eden). The Tree of Life is the key, and it is already in the midst of paradise. The interesting twist is that the Tree of Life is to be within paradise in eternity. Once the right path to the Tree of Life (trusting God) is followed, the person will find it there always with them in paradise.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Rev. 22:1-3)
[1]Jeongmo Yoo, John Edwards (1637-1716) on Human Free Choice and Divine Necessity : The Debate on the Relation between Divine Necessity and Human Freedom in Late Seventeenth-Century and Early Eighteenth-Century England, (Gottingen, DEU: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht , 2013): 95.
[2] Ibid., 96-97.
[3] Alice Russie, ed. The Essential Works of John Wesley, (Ulrichsville: Borbour Publishing, Inc., 2011),119.
[4] Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary, 1282.
[5] J. J. Davis, Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1975), 94.