Genesis 3:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:1-7

The moral chaos before the moral restoration. Hitherto the moral nature of man may be said to be absorbed in his religious nature. He has held intercourse with his Creator. He has ruled earth as "the paragon of animals." The introduction of a helpmeet was the commencement of society, therefore of distinctly moral relations. It is in the moral sphere that sin takes its origin, through the helpmeet, and as a violation at the same time of a direct Divine commandment, and of that social compact... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:2-3

And the woman said unto the serpent . Neither afraid of the reptile, there being not yet any enmity among the creatures; nor astonished at his speaking, perhaps as being not yet fully acquainted with the capabilities of the lower animals; nor suspicions of his designs, her innocence and inexperience not predisposing her to apprehend danger. Yet the tenor of the reptile's interrogation was fitted to excite alarm; and if, as some conjecture, she understood that Satan was the speaker, she... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 3:1-7

- Section III - The Fall- The Fall1. נחשׁ nachash “serpent; related: hiss,” Gesenius; “sting,” Mey. ערוּם 'ārûm “subtle, crafty, using craft for defence.”7. תפר tāpar “sew, stitch, tack together.” חגורה chăgôrâh “girdle, not necessarily apron.”This chapter continues the piece commenced at Genesis 2:4. The same combination of divine names is found here, except in the dialogue between the serpent and the woman, where God (אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym) alone is used. It is natural for the tempter to use... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 3:1

Genesis 3:1. The serpent was more subtle, &c. Some would render the word נחשׁ , nachash, here, monkey or baboon, and the word ערום , arum, intelligent: but it may be demonstrated from divers other passages of the Old Testament, where the same words are used, and from several parts of the New, where they are referred to, that our translators are perfectly right. The former word is used concerning the fiery serpents which bit the people in the wilderness, which certainly were... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 3:2-3

Genesis 3:2-3 . The woman said With a view to defend the conduct of her Maker toward them, against the insinuations of the tempter. We may eat of the trees of the garden Of all the trees except one. It is only concerning one that God hath said, “Ye shall not eat of it.” But when she adds, Lest ye die, it is evident her faith begins to waver, and she inclines to doubt whether God would fulfil his threatening, which was not, “Lest ye die,” but, “In dying ye shall die;” that is, “Ye... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:1-24

Human disobedience (3:1-24)Since human beings were made in God’s image, and since God was unlimited, the first human couple soon showed that they too wanted to be unlimited. They had to remember, however, that they were not God; they were only creatures made in the image of God. Just as the image of the moon on the water could not exist independently of the moon, so they could not exist independently of God. Their relationship with God contained an element of dependence, or limitation, and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 3:1

serpent. Hebrew. Nachash, a shining one. See note on Numbers 21:6 , Numbers 21:9 . The old serpent (2 Corinthians 11:3 ) transformed as "an angel of light" (= a glorious angel, 2 Corinthians 11:14 ). Compare Ezekiel 28:14 , Ezekiel 28:17 , connected with "cherub" (Ezekiel 28:13 , Ezekiel 28:14 , Ezekiel 28:16 ), and contrasted with it here in Genesis 3:24 . See App-19 . subtil = wise. Hebrew. 'arum, a Homonym. Same as Genesis 2:25 ; here = wise (as Job 5:12 ; Job 15:5 .Proverbs 12:16 ,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 3:2

may eat. Misquoted from Genesis 2:16 by not repeating the emphatic Figure Polyptoton , and thus omitting the emph. "freely". read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 3:3

neither shall ye touch it. This sentence is added. Compare Genesis 2:18 , Genesis 2:17 . There is another word in this verse we need to consider, and it is the word "touch". God's command to Eve was; "neither shall ye touch it. "The Hebrew word for "touch" is # H5060 in the Strong's dictionary is ( Naga, a prime root, prop. to touch, i.e., lay the hand upon ( for the purpose; euphemism, to lie with a woman), to reach) , So we see that the warning to Adam and Eve specifically, was to stay... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 3:1

"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?"The problem that stands at the head of this chapter is that of understanding what the serpent was. The near-unanimous opinion of scholars and commentators to the effect that he was a member of the animal kingdom is somewhat perplexing in view of the fact that the grammar of our versions does not support such a view.... read more

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