Genesis 3:1-15 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:1-5

I. The tempter, and that was the devil, in the shape and likeness of a serpent. 1. It is certain it was the devil that beguiled Eve. The devil and Satan is the old serpent (Rev. 12:9), a malignant spirit, by creation an angel of light and an immediate attendant upon God's throne, but by sin become an apostate from his first state and a rebel against God's crown and dignity. Multitudes of the angels fell; but this that attacked our first parents was surely the prince of the devils, the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:6-8

Here we see what Eve's parley with the tempter ended in. Satan, at length, gains his point, and the strong-hold is taken by his wiles. God tried the obedience of our first parents by forbidding them the tree of knowledge, and Satan does, as it were, join issue with God, and in that very thing undertakes to seduce them into a transgression; and here we find how he prevailed, God permitting it for wise and holy ends. I. We have here the inducements that moved them to transgress. The woman, being... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:9-10

We have here the arraignment of these deserters before the righteous Judge of heaven and earth, who, though he is not tied to observe formalities, yet proceeds against them with all possible fairness, that he may be justified when he speaks. Observe here, I. The startling question with which God pursued Adam and arrested him: Where art thou? Not as if God did not know where he was; but thus he would enter the process against him. ?Come, where is this foolish man?? Some make it a bemoaning... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:11-13

The prisoners being found guilty by their own confession, besides the personal and infallible knowledge of the Judge, and nothing material being offered in arrest of judgment, God immediately proceeds to pass sentence; and, in these verses, he begins (where the sin began) with the serpent. God did not examine the serpent, nor ask him what he had done nor why he did it; but immediately sentenced him, 1. Because he was already convicted of rebellion against God, and his malice and wickedness... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:14-15

I. The sentence passed upon the tempter may be considered as lighting upon the serpent, the brute-creature which Satan made use of which was, as the rest, made for the service of man, but was now abused to his hurt. Therefore, to testify a displeasure against sin, and a jealousy for the injured honour of Adam and Eve, God fastens a curse and reproach upon the serpent, and makes it to groan, being burdened. See Rom. 8:20. The devil's instruments must share in the devil's punishments. Thus the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had made ,.... Many instances are given of the subtlety of serpents, in hiding their heads when struck at, rolling themselves up, stopping their ear at the voice of the charmer, putting off their skin, lying in sand of the same colour with them, and biting the feet of horses, and other things of the like kind; but by these it does not appear to be now more subtle than any other creature, whatever it might be at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:2

And the woman said unto the serpent ,.... Or to him that spoke in the serpent, which she might take to be a messenger from heaven, a holy angel: had she known who it was, she might be chargeable with imprudence in giving an answer, and carrying on a conversation with him; and yet even supposing this, she might have a good design in her answer; partly to set the matter in a true light, and assert what was truth; and partly to set forth the goodness and liberality of God, in the large... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:3

But of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of the garden ,.... This tree stood near the tree of life, as is highly probable, since that is described in the same situation, Genesis 2:9 she does not give it any name, which perhaps was not as yet given it; or she was not acquainted with it, its name in the preceding chapter being given by anticipation; and most likely it is, it had its name from the event, and as yet was without one: God hath said, ye shall not eat of it, neither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman ,.... In reply to her answer: ye shall not surely die ; in direct contradiction to the divine threatening, and which he would insinuate was a mere threatening, and which God never intended to put in execution; so that they had nothing to fear from that, God would never be so rigid and severe, and beat so hard upon them as to put them to death for such an offence, if it was one; he only gave out the menace to frighten them, and deter from it: however,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:5

For God doth know ,.... Or "but F11 כי "sed", Piscator; "quin", Schmidt. God doth know", who knows all things, and has foreknowledge of all future events; he foreknows what will be the consequence of this event, eating the fruit of this tree, that it would be so far from issuing in death, which he has threatened, that the effect of it would be a clearer understanding, and a greater degree of knowledge of things, which he is unwilling should be enjoyed, and therefore has endeavoured... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:6-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:9-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:11-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:14-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:5

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