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Genesis 3

24 verses

TL;DR

The serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit; Adam and Eve eat, become aware of their nakedness, and are punished and expelled from Eden.

Summary

In the Garden of Eden, a crafty serpent questions God's command and persuades Eve to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Eve eats and shares it with Adam, who also eats. Their eyes are opened, revealing their nakedness, prompting them to hide. God discovers their disobedience and confronts them, attributing blame to each. The serpent is cursed with perpetual enmity, Eve's childbearing is intensified, and Adam's life is to toil and return to dust. God clothes them with animal skins, then, fearing their knowledge, expels them from Eden, placing cherubim and a flaming sword at the tree of life.

Outline
  1. Serpent’s temptation and Eve’s disobedience
  2. Adam and Eve eat, become aware, and are punished
  3. God’s judgment, clothing, and expulsion from Eden
Themes
Deception and temptationDisobedience and its consequencesKnowledge of good and evil as a double-edged gift
Keywords
serpenttemptationforbidden fruitdisobedienceknowledge of good and evilcurseexpulsionEdencherubimflaming sword
People
SerpentEveAdamLORD God
Places
Garden of EdenEast of Eden
Things
Tree of Knowledge of Good and EvilForbidden fruitTree of LifeFig leavesAnimal skins (coat)CherubimFlaming sword
Key Verses
  • Genesis 3:5: Shows the promise of knowledge that changes humanity
  • Genesis 3:16: Reveals the curse placed upon the woman and the root of marital dynamics
  • Genesis 3:21: Illustrates God’s compassion by clothing Adam and Eve
  • Genesis 3:23: Highlights God’s fear of humanity's newfound knowledge and the resulting restriction
  • Genesis 3:24: Marks the final judgment and the prevention of access to eternal life
Questions
  • What does the serpent’s deception reveal about human nature?
  • How does the knowledge gained by Adam and Eve change their relationship with God?
  • In what ways does the expulsion from Eden foreshadow later themes of redemption?
Sentiment

negative
The narrative presents judgment, punishment, and loss.