Genesis 3:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

NIV: And he said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?'

NASB: And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?'

CSB: Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? "

NLT: Who told you that you were naked?' the Lord God asked. 'Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?'

KJV: 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?

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?”

Overwhelmed with shame after disobeying God, by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve attempted to hide from God. This was foolish, of course. These first humans had never sinned, had never thought to hide from God. And yet, they should have known, that such a thing is not possible.

When God asked where Adam was, Adam's response was that he hid because he was afraid and naked. Once again, God asks a question He knows the answer to in order to force Adam to admit his own actions. He demands an explanation of who told Adam of his nakedness. Had they disobeyed Him?

All these centuries later, each of us can relate to this moment at a fundamental level. We all know what it is to give in to temptation, to sin, to be caught, and to face the question about what we have done. Because sin entered into the world, this is a foundational human experience being played out for the first time.

The following verses will show mankind's response to our first sin. Unfortunately, this mostly involves an attempt to blame others.

Genesis 3:8–24 describes the consequences of man's rebellion against God. After falling to temptation, humans are ashamed and foolishly attempt to hide from God. When confronted with their sin, the man and woman confess, but also attempt to shift the blame to others. Adam even blames God. In response, God issues three individual ''curses'' which affect humanity to this day. Mankind can no longer stay in the ''very good'' garden, and is banished. Even so, God continues to provide for His creation.

Genesis 3 tells the story of paradise lost by the willfulness of human sin. Humanity was originally given every perfect thing they could need or want, and virtually no restrictions. Despite that, Adam and Eve needed only a bit of prompting from a talking serpent to disobey their good Creator. Immediately overcome by shame and quickly cursed by God, the painful story of human history begins with their exit from the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2 ended with the last glimpse of a sinless world. Adam and Eve are perfect in themselves, in their purpose, and in their relationship as husband and wife. Chapter 3 tells the story of that paradise lost; the result of the first willful human sin. The consequences: immediate shame and lifelong separation from their home with God. Chapter 4 will describe the beginning of their lives together, the beginning of the painful story of human history.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/5/2024 1:50:28 PM