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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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:16

We have here the sentence passed upon the woman for her sin. Two things she is condemned to: a state of sorrow, and a state of subjection, proper punishments of a sin in which she had gratified her pleasure and her pride. I. She is here put into a state of sorrow, one particular of which only is specified, that in bringing forth children; but it includes all those impressions of grief and fear which the mind of that tender sex is most apt to receive, and all the common calamities which they... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:17-19

I. God put marks of his displeasure on Adam in three instances:? 1. His habitation is, by this sentence, cursed: Cursed is the ground for thy sake; and the effect of that curse is, Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee. It is here intimated that his habitation should be changed; he should no longer dwell in a distinguished, blessed, paradise, but should be removed to common ground, and that cursed. The ground, or earth, is here put for the whole visible creation, which, by the sin... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 3:20

God having named the man, and called him Adam, which signifies red earth, Adam, in further token of dominion, named the woman, and called her Eve, that is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve that of the living soul. The reason of the name is here given (some think, by Moses the historian, others, by Adam himself): Because she was (that is, was to be) the mother of all living. He had before called her Ishah?woman, as a wife; here he calls her Evah?life, as a mother. Now, 1. If... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:14

And the Lord God said unto the serpent ,.... And to the devil in it; for what follows may be applied to both; literally to the serpent, and mystically to Satan; both are punished, and that very justly, the serpent in being the instrument Satan made use of, and is cursed for his sake, as the earth for man's; and the punishing the instrument as well as the principal, the more discovers God's detestation of the act for which they are punished, as appears in other instances, Exodus 21:28 . Nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman ,.... Between whom there had been so much familiarity, not only while they had the preceding discourse together, but before; for it is conjectured by some F25 See the Universal History, vol. 1. p. 126. , that she took a particular liking to that creature, and was delighted with it, and laid it perhaps in her bosom, adorned her neck with its windings, or made it a bracelet for her arms; and being a peculiar favourite, the devil made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said ,.... The woman receives her sentence next to the serpent, and before the man, because she was first and more deeply in the transgression, and was the means of drawing her husband into it. I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception , or "thy sorrow of thy conception" F1 והרנך עצבונך "tuum dolorem etiam conceptus tui", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "tuum dolorem conceptus tui", Drusius, Noldius, p. 315. No. 1978. , or rather "of thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:17

And unto Adam he said ,.... Last of all, being the last that sinned, but not to be excused: because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife ; which was not only mean but sinful, since it was opposite to the voice of God, which he ought to have hearkened to God is to be hearkened to and obeyed rather than man, and much rather than a woman; to regard the persuasion of a woman, and neglect the command of God, is a great aggravation of such neglect; see Acts 4:19 . and hast eaten... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee ,.... Not for his advantage, but to give him more trouble, and cause him more fatigue and sorrow to root them up: these include all sorts of noxious herbs and plants, and troublesome weeds, which added to man's labour to pluck up, that those more useful might grow and flourish: and Rabbi Eliezer F5 Apud Fagium in loc. was of opinion, that if there had not been a new blessing upon the earth, it would have brought forth nothing else,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:19

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread ,.... Or "of thy nose" F6 אפיך "nasi tui", Picherellus. , sweat appearing first and chiefly on the forehead, from whence it trickles down by the nose in persons employed in hard labour; and here it takes in all the labour used in cultivating the earth for the production of herbs, and particularly of corn, of which bread is made; with respect to which there are various operations in which men sweat, such as ploughing, sowing, reaping,... read more

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