Genesis 3:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

NIV: Then the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'

NASB: Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this that you have done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'

CSB: So the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done? "And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

NLT: Then the Lord God asked the woman, 'What have you done?' 'The serpent deceived me,' she replied. 'That’s why I ate it.'

KJV: And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

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 directly questioned by God about whether he had eaten from the forbidden tree, Adam threw all of the responsibility on his wife, and God—anyone but himself. Adam's claim is not only that Eve gave him the fruit, but Adam goes so far as to remind God that the woman is there by God's decision. Adam has already failed in his responsibility to be the leader and guardian of his wife. And he compounded it by trying to blame others for his actions.

Here, God turns His gaze on Eve and asks her a more open-ended question: What have you done? Eve's response still shifts some of the blame, but it is far simpler, more direct, and more apologetic than Adam: "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

What we see in both responses is the beginning of another consequence for sin: broken human relationships. In fact, in God's pronouncements about what will follow humanity's choice to sin will become the normal course of life. These include deep strains in marriage relations, and in all the marriages to follow.

Before dealing with mankind, however, God first turns to the serpent.

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 5/4/2024 5:43:11 PM