Genesis 3:4

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:4

Ye shall not surely die - Here the father of lies at once appears; and appears too in flatly contradicting the assertion of God. The tempter, through the nachash , insinuates the impossibility of her dying, as if he had said, God has created thee immortal, thy death therefore is impossible; and God knows this, for as thou livest by the tree of life, so shalt thou get increase of wisdom by the tree of knowledge. read more

John Calvin

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

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

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 3:4-5

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

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