Genesis 3:5-8 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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food ,.... She being near the tree, and perhaps just at it when the serpent first attacked her; wherefore looking more wishfully at it, she could discern nothing in the fruit of the tree which showed it to be bad, and unfit to be eaten, or why it should be forbidden for food; but, on the contrary, had a most promising aspect to be very delicious, nourishing and salutary, as any other fruit in the garden: and that it was pleasant to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:7

And the eyes of them both were opened ,.... Not of their bodies, but of their minds; not so as to have an advanced knowledge of things pleasant, profitable, and useful, as was promised and expected, but of things very disagreeable and distressing. Their eyes were opened to see that they had been deceived by the serpent, that they had broke the commandment of God, and incurred the displeasure of their Creator and kind benefactor, and had brought ruin and destruction upon themselves; they saw... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:8

And they heard the voice of the Lord God ,.... Which they had heard before, and knew, though perhaps now in another tone, and very terrible, which before was mild and gentle, pleasant and delightful: some by it understand a clap of thunder, sometimes called the voice of the Lord, Psalm 29:3 and the rather because mention is made afterwards of a wind; but rather the voice of the Son of God, the eternal Word, is here meant, who appeared in an human form, as a pledge of his future... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:5

Your eyes shall be opened - Your understanding shall be greatly enlightened and improved; and ye shall be as gods, כאלהים kelohim , like God, so the word should be translated; for what idea could our first parents have of gods before idolatry could have had any being, because sin had not yet entered into the world? The Syriac has the word in the singular number, and is the only one of all the versions which has hit on the true meaning. As the original word is the same which is used to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:6

The tree was good for food - The fruit appeared to be wholesome and nutritive. And that it was pleasant to the eyes. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:7

The eyes of them both were opened - They now had a sufficient discovery of their sin and folly in disobeying the command of God; they could discern between good and evil; and what was the consequence? Confusion and shame were engendered, because innocence was lost and guilt contracted. Let us review the whole of this melancholy business, the fall and its effects. From the New Testament we learn that Satan associated himself with the creature which we term the serpent, and the original... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:8

The voice of the Lord - The voice is properly used here, for as God is an infinite Spirit, and cannot be confined to any form, so he can have no personal appearance. It is very likely that God used to converse with them in the garden, and that the usual time was the decline of the day, היום לרוח leruach haiyom , in the evening breeze; and probably this was the time that our first parents employed in the more solemn acts of their religious worship, at which God was ever present. The time... read more

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 3:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 3:8

Group of Brands