Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
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21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
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GENESIS (1-4)
CHAPTER THREE:
SIN AND JUDGMENT
Genesis 3:1-5 – The Serpent Speaks to the Woman
GE3:1 Now among all the wild animals of the grasslands that YHWH God made, the
serpent
was the most
cautious.
[Matthew 10:16] So it started to
speak
to the woman:
“Is it true
that The God has told both of you
never to eat from any of garden’s trees?”
| 94 | Serpent: Or, snake [BAS]. The Hebrew is NACHASH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5175] and the Greek is DRAGON as at Revelation
12:9 where there is an allusion to this account. Jesus also alludes or echoes this account when he speaks of the man-slaying liar Satan at John 8:44. |
| 95 | Cautious: Or, subtle [WEB], wiser [BAS], subtile [YLT], crafty [RHM], shrewest [TAN]. Jesus borrows the word in another context. [Matthew 10:16] The Hebrew is ARUWM [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #6175, shrewd,
crafty, sly, sensible, prudent] Paul echoes this subtle seduction at 2 Corinthians 2:11 and Ephesians 6:11. |
| 96 | Speak:
Some suggest a form of ventriloquism as God Himself used in the case of Balaam and the donkey. [Numbers 22:28] Later demonic mimics created the python that spoke through the prophet of Delphi. Compare the Greek of Acts 16:16 – E’KHOU·SAN
PNEU’MA PY’THO·NA. |
| 97 | Speak to the woman: Paul echoes this seduction at 2 Corinthians
11:3. |
| 98 | Is it true: The question suggests others know of, or are the source of, this misleading statement. In other words: someone else is talking about this with a contrary view. |
| 99 | You: The Hebrew is plural indicating both Adam and Eve, though God’s commandment was conveyed through Adam to Eve. |
GE3:2 The woman responded to the serpent: “We may eat of the garden’s grove of trees!
GE3:3 It is just regarding the fruit of the tree in the center of the garden, The God told us: ‘Both of you
must never eat that fruit. Both of you, must not even touch it, so that you both will die.’”
| 100 | You: The “you” is plural indicating both Adam and Eve. |
| 101 | Die: [See Genesis 2:17.] Death only results upon disobedience inferring that everlasting life on earth was the divine possibility. [See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Romans
chapters 3 and 5.] The word “die” is from the Hebrew root MUWTH. The English word “die” is from Old English to “pass away” or “become senseless.” Thus the English root means a state of unconsciousness. “Death”
is from an IE DHEU meaning “senseless.” |
GE3:4 But at this the serpent told the woman: “You will absolutely never die!
| 102 | Never die: The first lie. [John 8:44] It is a given that humankind would live forever in Edenic paradise if they were obedient to
God. The satanic serpent contradicts God’s commandment which included the judgment of the dying process leading to death upon eating of such fruit. |
GE3:5 For The God is quite aware
that on the very day you both eat from it’s [fruit] both of your eyes will open wide
and you will surely become just like The God
in knowing both good and bad.” | 103 |
God is quite aware: Or, knows. A satanic slander against God as though He were hiding something from humankind. The Serpent confuses the two Trees, for one leads to death and the other to everlasting life on earth. |
| 104 | Eyes will open wide: Or, the satanic serpent infers they are being blinded by God. |
| 105 | God: Or, gods [KJV, BAS]. The Hebrew is ELOHIM without the article. Some see it as plural “gods” and others as a reference the plural of majesty. The Jewish-Greek LXX uses THEOI,
meaning “gods.” |
| 106 | Knowing both good and bad: Or, good and evil. Adam and Eve knew it was
“good” to reproduce as this was the first commandment. [Genesis 1:28] They also knew it was “bad” to disobey God and thus end their lives in Eden. It is believed by some that ‘knowing’ here indicates a self-determination
as a moral judge. That this was not “The God” alone is shown by Genesis 3:22. The Absolute God is the source of absolute good and thus Jesus does not accept the title “Good Teacher.” [Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18] The Son receives all moral
goodness from the Father. It is NOT solely knowing what is good and bad, it is the personal determination of what is god and bad. See 1 Kings 3:9 and Hebrews 5:14. |
Genesis 3:6, 7 – The Woman and Man Eat What is Forbidden
GE3:6 Because of this the woman realized
that the tree’s [fruit] was good
and desirable
food, as well as pleasing to the sight. So she took some of the fruit and ate it.
Later she also gave some to her husband when he was together with her
and he ate it.
| 107 | Realized: The Hebrew is RA’AH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #7200, saw, perceived, considered]. Desire, greed, or coveting begins with sight. |
| 108 | Good: The opposite of God’s own determination. |
| 109 | Desirable: Compare James 1:14, 15. |
| 110 | Ate it: The actual “sin.” |
| 111 | When he was together with her: Or, when with her. It would be obvious that he would be “with” her if she gave him some of the fruit – which also meant she took some to him – so there may be something more implied here. |
GE3:7 It was then that their eyes opened wide and they became aware they were both naked.
So they sewed fig
leaves together and made loin cloths for themselves.| 112 | Naked: Their wisdom or knowledge does not lead to what they may have supposed,
but rather to shame. For now they could not look upon one another wholly innocent. The function of the conscience begins. Compare Romans 2:15, 16. |
| 113 | Fig: The only fruit so-named in Eden. It has large leaves and the mention may infer the fruit eaten. |
Genesis 3:8-13 – ‘What Have You Done’?
GE3:8 Some time later – walking about in the garden in the windy afternoon
– they both heard the voice
of YHWH God, and so they tried to hide among the trees from the face
of YHWH God.
| 114 | Windy afternoon: Or, cool [KJV], evening BAS]. Indicating temperature changes later in the day. |
| 115 | Voice: Or, sound [YLT]. |
| 116 |
Face: Or, presence [KJV], eyes of [BAS] |
GE3:9 Now YHWH God began calling for the man and asking, “Where are you?”
GE3:10 At last the man answered: “I heard Your voice in the paradise garden, and I got frightened because I was naked and so tried to hid.”
GE3:11 At this [God] asked: “Who ever said you were ‘naked’?
Have you eaten from the very tree I commanded you not to eat?”
| 117 | Naked: Where did Adam derive a word most unnatural for him? |
GE3:12 The
man answered: “It was the woman You gave me
– it was she who gave me that fruit to eat, and so I went ahead and ate it!”
| 118 | The woman You gave me: Adam blames two persons: his wife and God. |
| 119 | I went ahead and ate it: Ever since men seem to fall into two main categories: those too weak and those too strong. |
GE3:13 It
was then YHWH God asked the woman: “What have you done?” The woman answered: “I ate [the fruit] because the
serpent seduced
me!”
[2 Corinthians 11:3]| 120 | Serpent seduced me: Or, beguiled [KJV], tricked by deceit [BAS], caused me to forget [YLT], deceived [WEB]. The
Hebrew is NASHA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5377]. The woman blames one of God’s creations, the serpent – or, the being behind the serpent. Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 11:3 where Paul uses the same word. |
Genesis 3:14, 15 – Judgment on the Serpent
GE3:14 It was then YHWH God spoke to the serpent:
“Because you are responsible for this| 121 | Serpent: Really, Satan the Devil. [Revelation 12:9] |
– out of all the tame animals, as well as the wild animals of the grasslands – you are cursed!
You will crawl everywhere on your belly and all your life
you will eat dirt.
| 122 | Cursed: The Hebrew is ‘ARAR [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #779]. |
| 123 | Eat dirt: Or, dust [KJV]. It is likely Isaiah 65:25 and Micah 7:17 echo this. |
GE3:15 Also, there
will be
animosity
between you
and the woman
and between your offspring
and her offspring.
[Revelation 12:1-17]
He will crush your head
[Romans 16:20] while you will bruise his heel.” | 124 | There will be: Many view this as the first prophecy. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation chapter 12. |
| 125 | Animosity: Or, enmity [KJV], war [BAS]. |
| 126 | You: That is, Satan. [Revelation
12:9] |
| 127 | Woman: Though some see Eve, others see another women – God’s celestial “woman.”
[Compare notes on Galatians 4:26. (Isaiah 54:5; Revelation 12:1] |
| 128 | Your offspring: Or, seed. Satan’s “seed” is seen in later verses. [Matthew 13:38; 23:33; John 8:44; 1 John 3:10; Revelation 12:7-9] Satan’s seed is a corporate body of individuals over a span of time. |
| 129 | Her offspring: That is, the Church of Christ. Compare notes on Galatians 4:26 and Revelation 12:17. |
| 130 | Crush your head: Or, bruise [KJV]. Paul alludes to the phrase at Romans 16:20 and suggests it is the Christ and his Church who bruises or crush’s the head of the Serpent. [Revelation 12:10, 11, 17] |
| 131 | Bruise his heel: This ‘bruising’ is described in Psalm 22 and Isaiah chapter 53. The Messiah receives what amounts to a bruise on the heel. [Micah 5:1; Matthew 27:50] |
Genesis 3:16 – Judgment on the Woman
GE3:16 [The God] told the woman: “I will increase your birth-pangs
considerably, and in your will bear children in such birth-pangs. Also, you will have great longing for the man
and you will
dominated by him.”
[1 Corinthians 14:34]| 132 | Birth-pangs: Or, sorrow and conception [KJV], pain in child birth [WEB]. |
| 133 | Longing for the man: Or, desire [KJV]. The Hebrew is SHUWQAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8669, craving] and may refer to womankind’s
craving for security and protection provided by the male. |
| 134 | Dominated by him: Or, rule [KJV], be your master
[BAS]. The LXX reading is, “your submission will be to your husband and he will rule over you.” It is possible Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 14:34]. The suggestion is that this situation would not have existed before. |
Genesis 3:17-19 – Judgment on the Man
GE3:17 Now to Adam [The God] said: “Because you obeyed
the voice of your wife and ate from the very tree I commanded you, ‘You must never eat from it’ – the ground is cursed
because of you. You will only partake of its product through pain as long as you live.
| 135 | Obeyed: Or, hearken [KJV], gave ear [BAS]. The Hebrew is SHAMA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8085, give heed, consent, agree, yield, obey]. The husband’s weakness. |
| 136 | Cursed: As above concerning the Serpent. See Genesis 4:12; 5:29. |
GE3:18 It will only produce thorns and thistles
for you, and eat only wild vegetation.
| 137 | Thorns and thistles: Or, waste plants [BAS]. |
| 138 | Wild vegetation: Or, herb of the field [KJV], plants [BAS]. The Hebrew is ‘ESEB [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #6212, grass, green plants]. Rather than the easy pickings of fruit trees, it will be from the soil’s vegetation Adam must grub and dig for food. |
GE3:19 You will eat food only by the sweat of your brow,
until you return to the dirt,
for you were
taken out of that same dirt. [1 Corinthians 15:47] You will return to this dirt because you are dirt.”| 139 |
Sweat of your brow: Or, sweat of thy face [KJV], hard work of your hands [BAS]. |
| 140 | Return to the dirt:
Or, return unto the ground [KJV], go back to the earth [BAS]. Adam came – not from heaven or some spiritual pre-existence – but from the clay of Eden. Paul alludes to this at 1 Corinthians 15:47. Compare Psalm 103:14; 104:3, 4; and Ecclesiastes
3:20. Nowhere is it ever indicated that Adam had some immaterial, immortal soul that continued living as the Serpent claimed. Adam was a soul. He did not possess a soul. [Genesis 2:7] Adam is not told he would go to heaven or hell. He is not even told he would
be one day resurrected to stand before God’s judgment throne. See Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on Where Are the Dead? for details on death, hell, resurrection, and after-life. |
Genesis 3:20-24 – Humankind Driven from the Garden Paradise
GE3:20 It was after this that Adam named his wife
‘Zoe’
for she would become the mother
of every living person.
| 141 | Adam named his wife: Or, called. Eve did not give herself her name, nor did God. |
| 142 | Zoe: Or, Eve. Zoe is the Greek form, while Eve [Latin: HE’VA] is the general name from the Hebrew CHAW-WAH’, all meaning life or living. It is the root of zoo and zoology. |
| 143 | Mother: The last designation for the woman. This woman was to produce the human family. She is not some evolutionary link in a chain, but the very beginning of humanity. |
GE3:21 And YHWH God made long [animal] skin clothing
for Adam and his wife to cover them.
| 144 | Long [animal] skin clothing: Or, coats of skins [KJV], garments of skins [JPS]. This is a kindness of God’s part to protect
the first human couple from the harsh and rigorous life outside Eden. |
GE3:22 YHWH God continued to say: “Now humankind has become similar to us
in knowing good and bad, and so that they never reach out and partake also of the
Tree of Life
– and so eat and live forever”
–
| 145 | Us: Like the same of Genesis 1:26. Some see the angels, others a triune allusion, and still others a reference to the pre-existent
Christ. [John 1:10; 17:5] |
| 146 | Tree of Life: Eating such fruit would indicate God’s authority to live forever
on earth. Jesus borrows from the phrase in the context of the victorious Church. [Revelation 2:7] |
| 147 | Live forever:
Humankind was created to live forever on earth, though this was not Adam’s automatic right by virtue of being created perfect. Throughout all eternity, ALL of God’s creatures – heavenly or earthly – must continue to be obedient if they
wish everlasting life. Note that even during Messiah’s Thousand Year reign sin will occur leading to Second Death. [Isaiah 65:17-21; Revelation 20:4, 6, 12-15] |
GE3:23 and so with that
YHWH God cast [humankind] out
of the Edenic garden paradise in order to cultivate the dirt
from which he had been taken.
| 148 | Cast [humankind] out: Or, sent him forth [KJV], sent the man out [BAS], drove out [JPS]. |
| 149 | Cultivate the dirt: Such cultivation would not be as easy as in The God-prepared section of Eden. |
GE3:24 And thus [The God] drove out humankind, and then He stationed the Cherubs
– with a flaming sword turning continually | 150 | Cherubs: Or, cherubims [KJV], winged ones [BAS]. The Hebrew is KERUWB [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3742, an angelic being] and is of unknown origin. The Greek [LXX] is CHEROUBIN. Jewish tradition holds these
were the size of humans. The word occurs about 100 times in the Bible. Compare Exodus 25:10-21; 26:1, 31; 36:8, 35; 37:7-9; see LXX on Ezekiel 28:11-19. The word occurs only once in Hebrews 9:5. |
| 151 | Flaming sword turning continually: Or, a flaming sword which turned every way [KJV], flame of the flashing sword [DAR]. |
– at
the east of the paradise garden of Eden in order to protect
the Tree of Life. | 152 | Tree of Life: It is thought by some that this continued until the Flood. |
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Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
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