Genesis 3:3-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:4

The tempter's chief weapon. Narrative of the fall is of interest not only as the record of how mankind became sinful, but as showing the working of that "lie" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ) by which the tempter continually seeks to draw men away ( 2 Corinthians 11:3 ). Eve's temptation is in substance our temptation; Eve's fall illustrates our danger, and gives us matter whereby to try ourselves and mark how far we "walk by faith." The SUBSTANCE OF THE TEMPTATION was suggesting doubts—... 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 3:2-3

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 3:4-5

Genesis 3:4-5 . The tempter, finding that the woman began to doubt whether eating this fruit was a crime, and if it were, whether punishment would follow, now became more bold in his attack, and, giving God the lie direct, asserted roundly, “Ye shall not surely die.” So far from it, you shall have much advantage from eating of this tree. He suits the temptation to the pure state they were now in, proposing to them, not any carnal pleasure, but intellectual delights. 1st, Your eyes shall be... 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 3:3

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 3:4

Ye shall not surely die = Satan's second utterance. Contradiction of God's Word in Genesis 2:17 . This has become the foundation of Spiritism and Traditional belief as to death. See note on Genesis 2:17 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 3:2-3

"And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but 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.""God hath said ..." The glaring error on Eve's part is her mishandling of God's Word. She added to it, saying "neither shall ye touch it"; and the old Hebrew legend tells how the Tempter took advantage of it. The serpent is said to have taken the fruit and touched... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 3:4-5

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.""Ye shall not surely die ..." This was a bold and cunning falsehood; and one is a little distressed by the scholars who are still treating this narrative as if the Devil told the truth. Their error is the same as that of Eve, in that they alter what God said and then claim that what God allegedly said... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 3:3

Genesis 3:3. Neither shall ye touch it— Words which some expositors have supposed to contain a prevarication on the part of Eve; but they express no more than a strong confirmation of the former clause. read more