Genesis 3:4-7 NIV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:4

Verse 4 4.And the serpent said unto the woman Satan now springs more boldly forward; and because he sees a breach open before him, he breaks through in a direct assault, for he is never wont to engage in open war until we voluntarily expose ourselves to him, naked and unarmed. He cautiously approaches us at first with blandishments; but when he has stolen in upon us, he dares to exalt himself petulantly and with proud confidence against God; just as he now seizing upon Eve’s doubt, penetrates... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:5

Verse 5 5.For God doth know. There are those who think that God is here craftily praised by Satan, as if He never would prohibit men from the use of wholesome fruit. But they manifestly contradict themselves, for they at the some time confess that in the preceding member of the sentence he had already declared God to be unworthy of confidence, as one who had lied. Others suppose that he charges God with malignity and envy, as wishing to deprive man of his highest perfection; and this opinion is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:6

Verse 6 6.And when the woman saw This impure look of Eve, infected with the poison of concupiscence, was both the messenger and the witness of an impure heart. She could previously behold the tree with such sincerity, that no desire to eat of it affected her mind; for the faith she had in the word of God was the best guardian of her heart, and of all her senses. But now, after the heart had declined from faith, and from obedience to the word, she corrupted both herself and all her senses, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:7

Verse 7 7.And the eyes of them both were opened. It was necessary that the eyes of Eve should be veiled till her husband also was deceived; but now both, being alike bound by the chain of an unhappy consent, begin to be sensible of their wretchedness although they are not yet affected with a deep knowledge of their fault. They are ashamed of their nakedness, yet, though convinced, they do not humble themselves before God, nor fear his judgements as they ought; they even do not cease to resort... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:1-7

How long the paradisiacal state of innocence and felicity continued the historian does not declare, probably as not falling within the scope of his immediate design. Psalms 49:12 has been thought, though without sufficient reason, to hint that man's Eden life was of comparatively short duration. The present chapter relates the tragic incident which brought it to a termination. Into the question of the origin of moral evil in the universe it does not enter. The recta-physical problem of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman . "As God had preached to Adam, so Satan now also preaches to Eve … The object of Satan was to draw away Eve by his word or saying from that which God had said" (Luther). Ye shall not surely die . Lo-moth temuthun . Thus the second step in his assault is to challenge the Divine veracity, in allusion to which it has been thought our Savior calls Satan a liar (cf. John 8:44 : ο ̔ ì ταν λαλη ͂ͅ το Ì ψευ ͂ δος ε ̓ κ τω ͂ ν ι ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:5

For ( כִּי —nam , γαρ , for because; assigning the reason God doth know . Thus the serpent practically charges the Deity with (a) in affirming that to be true which he knew to be false; (b) in doing this while delivering his law; (c) in pretending to be careful of man's safety while in reality he was only jealous of his own honor. That in the day ye eat thereof . Cf. the Divine prohibition ( Genesis 2:17 ), the exact terms of which are again used—a mark of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:6

And (when) the woman saw . "An impure look, infected with the poison of concupiscence" (Calvin); cf. Joshua 7:21 . That the tree was good for food. "The fruit of this tree may have been neither poisonous nor beautiful, or it may have been both; but sin has the strange power of investing the object of desire for the time being, whatever its true character, with a wonderful attraction" (Inglis). And that it (was) pleasant Literally, a desire ( Psalms 10:17 ), a lust ( Numbers 11:4 ... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 3:6

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