The Fall of Man: Genesis 3 Bible Study

Genesis 3

1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die:

5 For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 And the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?

10 And he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11 And he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?

12 And the man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13 And the LORD God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14 And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life:

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

16 To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.

17 And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

21 To Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from where he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 3 is the foundational narrative of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, revealing the origin of sin and the immediate promise of a Redeemer. 📖 This chapter explains why our world is in its current state and introduces the "Everlasting Covenant" of grace that underpins all biblical truth.

The Subtle Deception and the Fall

The tragedy began when the serpent, the most subtle beast of the field and a medium for Satan, approached Eve Genesis 3:1. Satan is the originator of sin and a liar from the beginning John 8:44+1. He aimed to shake the confidence of our first parents in their Creator by suggesting that God’s law was restrictive and that they would not actually die for disobedience Genesis 3:4.

• Doubt and Disbelief: Eve was beguiled into believing that she could reach a higher state of existence by transgressing God's command 2 Corinthians 11:3.

• The Act of Sin: When she saw the fruit was pleasant and desirable to make one wise, she ate and gave to Adam Genesis 3:6. Adam was not deceived but chose to share his wife’s fate, violating the first commandment by placing her above God 1 Timothy 2:14.

• Immediate Consequences: Their eyes were opened to their own folly and guilt Genesis 3:7. Fear replaced love, leading them to hide from the presence of the Lord Genesis 3:8.

The Sentence of Death

God had warned that the penalty for transgression was death Genesis 2:17. After the Fall, the Lord pronounced a sentence that matched the reality of their choice.

• Mortality: Man was told he would return to the ground, for "dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" Genesis 3:19. This confirms that man is not naturally immortal; death is a sleep that lasts until the resurrection Genesis 5:5.

• The Broken Dominion: Because of sin, the earth was cursed with thorns and thistles, and man’s easy labor was replaced by the "sweat of his face" Genesis 3:17-19. Adam lost his original dominion, and Satan became the temporary "prince of this world" John 12:31+1.

The First Gospel Promise Genesis 3:15

Even before the sentence was pronounced on Adam and Eve, God provided hope. Genesis 3:15 is the "First Gospel" (Protoevangelium), containing the entire plan of salvation in a single prophecy.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15

• The Enmity: Naturally, fallen man is in harmony with Satan. It is God who "puts enmity" in the human heart toward sin, giving us a desire for righteousness Genesis 3:15.

• The Seed of the Woman: This refers to Christ, who was born of a woman to take our fallen nature and cope with the strong foe Isaiah 7:14+1.

• The Victory: Satan would "bruise his heel" (the suffering and death of Christ on the cross), but Christ would "bruise his head," inflicting a fatal wound that ensures the ultimate destruction of the devil Hebrews 2:14+1.

Connection to Fundamental Beliefs

Genesis 3 establishes several pillars of faith that remain vital for God's people today:

• The Nature of Man: We see that man was created in God’s image but became mortal and sinful through disobedience Genesis 3:19+1.

• The Great Controversy: This chapter unmasks the arts of the enemy and shows that the battle is over God's law and character Revelation 12:7-9.

• The Atonement: Christ's sacrifice was not an afterthought but an eternal purpose to restore what was lost John 3:16+1.

• The Perpetuity of the Law: Sin is defined as the transgression of the law 1 John 3:4. The fact that Christ had to die to save man proves that the law could not be changed or abolished Isaiah 53:5.

Our Hope Today 🌟

Though we are currently subject to the "vanity" brought by the Fall Romans 8:20, we look forward to the "restoration of all things." Just as the first Adam lost Eden, the Second Adam, Christ, has gained the right to take the captives from the grasp of the great deceiver John 14:30+1. By beholding Him, we are changed back into His likeness!

May we always remember that the same Voice that called out to Adam in the garden, "Where art thou?" Genesis 3:9, is calling to us today, inviting us back to His love and mercy. 🙏

Genesis 3

1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die:

5 For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 And the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?

10 And he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11 And he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?

12 And the man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13 And the LORD God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14 And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life:

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

16 To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.

17 And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field;

19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

21 To Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from where he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Hello! It is such a joy to study the Word of God together. 📖 Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in the entire Bible because it explains the origin of the struggle we face every day and reveals the heart of our merciful Father. Let’s walk through this chapter verse by verse to understand the Great Controversy and the beautiful plan of redemption.

The Deception (Verses 1–5)

Verse 1: "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"

Satan did not appear as a monster but used a beautiful creature, the serpent, as his medium to deceive. He is the "old serpent" who deceives the whole world Revelation 12:9. Notice his strategy: he begins by planting a seed of doubt regarding God's Word. He was a liar from the beginning John 8:44.

Verses 2–3: "And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."

Eve began to parley with the tempter. God had warned that the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23. By entering into conversation with the enemy while away from her husband's side, she placed herself on his ground.

Verses 4–5: "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

Here is the first lie ever told to humanity: that man is naturally immortal. Satan contradicted God's flat statement Genesis 2:17. He appealed to her pride, suggesting that God was withholding a higher state of existence from them.

The Fall (Verses 6–8)

Verse 6: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."

Eve was overcome by the "lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" 1 John 2:16. Adam was not deceived 1 Timothy 2:14 but chose to share the fate of his companion because of his love for her, failing to trust that God could provide for him.

Verse 7: "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."

The "opening of their eyes" was a realization of guilt and the loss of their robes of light. Their attempt to cover themselves with fig leaves represents human efforts to hide sin or earn righteousness by works, which can never satisfy the law Romans 3:20.

Verse 8: "And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden."

Sin separates us from God Isaiah 59:2. The presence that was once their greatest joy now filled them with terror because the carnal mind is enmity against God Romans 8:7.

The Inquiry (Verses 9–13)

Verse 9: "And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"

This is the voice of a seeking Savior! God knew where they were, but He gave them an opportunity to confess.

Verses 10–13: Adam and Eve both began to shift the blame. Adam blamed the woman (and indirectly, God for giving her to him), and Eve blamed the serpent. This reveals the "deceitfulness of sin" Hebrews 3:13. However, God brought them to recognize that they had indeed transgressed His law, which is the definition of sin 1 John 3:4.

The Gospel Promise (Verses 14–15)

Verse 14: The Lord cursed the serpent, but the curse was a prophecy of Satan's eventual degradation and defeat Revelation 20:2.

Verse 15: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This is the first gospel promise! 🌟

• Enmity: Man had confederated with Satan, but God promised to "put enmity" in the heart against evil.

• The Seed: Christ, the Seed of the woman, would come to destroy the works of the devil 1 John 3:8.

• The Victory: Satan would "bruise his heel" (the crucifixion), but Christ would "bruise his head" (the total destruction of Satan's power).

The Consequences (Verses 16–19)

Verses 16–17: Sorrow and toil were introduced, not as a curse of hatred, but as a discipline to teach man the results of sin and to lead him back to God. The ground was cursed for man's sake, to provide a safeguard against the idleness that leads to temptation.

Verse 19: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Death is the natural result of being cut off from the Source of life. Man is not naturally immortal; he is formed of the dust Genesis 2:7 and returns to it when the breath of life departs Psalm 146:4.

The Covering and the Expulsion (Verses 20–24)

Verse 21: "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

To provide skins, a sacrifice had to be made—the first death in the garden. This pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world John 1:29. We are saved by His imputed righteousness, not our own "fig leaves" Romans 4:5-6.

Verses 22–24: God drove them from the garden to prevent them from eating of the tree of life and living forever in a state of sin. Immortality in sin would be an eternal misery. Thus, the exclusion from the garden was an act of mercy. He placed Cherubim to keep the way, but Christ has since bridged that gulf, becoming the "Way, the Truth, and the Life" John 14:6.

Summary for our lives: Though we live in a world marked by the fall, the plan of redemption provides for every emergency. By beholding Jesus, the Second Adam, we are changed back into the image of God 2 Corinthians 3:18 and will one day have right again to the tree of life Revelation 22:14. 🌈