The Fall of Humanity in Genesis 3
Genesis 3 describes the foundational biblical account of humanity's "Fall," a term used to express the revolt of the first parents from God and the subsequent sin and misery that affected them and their descendants [2]. This narrative is considered by many to be literally interpreted, recording facts that underpin the entire system of revealed truth [2].
The chapter begins with the serpent, described as more crafty than any other beast of the field, questioning God's command regarding the trees in the Garden of Eden [Genesis 3:1]. The woman, Eve, responds by stating that God commanded them not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden, nor to touch it, lest they die [Genesis 3:3, 5]. The serpent then directly contradicts God, saying, "You will not surely die" [Genesis 3:4]. This serpent is understood by many commentators to be an instrument of Satan or the devil, who is referred to as "that old serpent" in Revelation [5, 10]. John Gill notes that the chapter details the temptation of the first parents, the instrument of that temptation, their fall, and its effects [6]. Matthew Henry describes this chapter as a sad story, contrasting it with the earlier chapters that depicted the holiness and happiness of humanity and the peace of creation [7].
The temptation culminates when the woman sees that the tree is good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom. She takes its fruit and eats, then gives some to her husband, Adam, who also eats [Genesis 3:6]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown observe that Eve's imagination and feelings were completely won, and her fall was quickly followed by Adam's [8]. This act of disobedience is seen as the origin of sin and misery [4].
Immediately after eating, "the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked" [Genesis 3:7]. Adam Clarke explains that their eyes were opened to their sin and folly, leading to confusion and shame due to lost innocence and contracted guilt [10]. They then sewed fig leaves together to make coverings for themselves [Genesis 3:7].
God's subsequent confrontation with Adam and Eve leads to their judgment. God questions Adam, who blames Eve, who in turn blames the serpent [Genesis 3:9-13]. As a consequence, God pronounces curses upon the serpent, the woman, and the man. The serpent is cursed above all livestock, condemned to crawl on its belly and eat dust [Genesis 3:14]. A significant prophecy, often called the protoevangelium, is given in Genesis 3:15: "I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel" [1]. Adam Clarke interprets this as a promise of redemption through the incarnation of Christ [4].
Eve's sentence includes increased pain in childbirth and a desire for her husband, who will rule over her [Genesis 3:16]. Adam is cursed with toil and hardship in working the ground, which will produce thorns and thistles, and he is told that he will return to the dust from which he was taken [Genesis 3:17-19]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown explain that while Adam did not die immediately, his body underwent a change leading to dissolution, and the union between his soul and God was dissolved, making him liable to suffering and eternal punishment [9].
The consequences of the Fall are far-reaching. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that humanity, in consequence of the Fall, is born in sin, is a child of wrath, has an evil heart, is blinded in heart, and is depraved in mind [3]. The narrative concludes with God making garments of skin for Adam and Eve and expelling them from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and living forever in their fallen state [Genesis 3:21-24]. This expulsion marks a significant shift in the human condition, establishing the reality of sin, suffering, and mortality in the world [9].
Sources
- Genesis “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” -- Genesis 3:15”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fall of man — An expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved. The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2 and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referred to by our Lord and his apostles not only as being true, but as furnishing the ground of all God's subsequent dispensations and dealings with the children of m”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fall of Man, The — By the disobedience of Adam -- Ge 3:6,11,12; Ro 5:12,15,19. Through temptation of the devil -- Ge 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14. Man in consequence of Made in the image of Adam. -- Ge 5:3; 1Co 15:48,49. Born in sin. -- Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Joh 3:6. A child of wrath. -- Eph 2:3. Evil in heart. -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Jer 16:12; Mt 15:19. Blinded in heart. -- Eph 4:18. Corrupt and perverse in his ways. -- Ge 6:12; Ps 10:5; Ro 3:12-16. Depraved in mind. -- Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17; Col 1:21; Tit 1:15. Without understanding. -- Ps 14:2,3; Ro 3:11; 1:31. ”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 3 (introduction): Satan, by means of a creature here called the serpent, deceives Eve, Gen 3:1-5. Both she and Adam transgress the Divine command, and fall into sin and misery, Gen 3:6, Gen 3:7. They are summoned before God, and judged, Gen 3:8-13. The creature called the serpent is degraded and punished, Gen 3:14. The promise of redemption by the incarnation of Christ, Gen 3:15. Eve sentenced, Gen 3:16. Adam sentenced, Gen 3:17. The ground cursed, and death threatened, Gen 3:18, Gen 3:19. Why the woman was called Eve, Gen 3:20. Adam and Eve clothed with skins, Gen 3:21.”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3 (introduction): THE TEMPTATION. (Gen 3:1-5) the serpent--The fall of man was effected by the seductions of a serpent. That it was a real serpent is evident from the plain and artless style of the history and from the many allusions made to it in the New Testament. But the material serpent was the instrument or tool of a higher agent, Satan or the devil, to whom the sacred writers apply from this incident the reproachful name of "the dragon, that old serpent" [Rev 20:2]. Though Moses makes no mention of this wicked spirit--giving only the history of the ”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 3 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 3 In this chapter an account is given of the temptation of our first parents, of the instrument of it, and of their fall into it, and of the effect of it, Gen 3:1 their summons upon it to appear before God, against whom they had sinned, Gen 3:8 their examination by him, and the excuses they made, Gen 3:11 the various sentences passed of the serpent, the woman, and the man, Gen 3:14 some incidental things recorded, expressive of faith and hope in man, and of favour to him, Gen 3:20 and his expulsion from the garden of Eden, Gen 3:”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 3 (introduction): The story of this chapter is perhaps as sad a story (all things considered) as any we have in all the Bible. In the foregoing chapters we have had the pleasant view of the holiness and happiness of our first parents, the grace and favour of God, and the peace and beauty of the whole creation, all good, very good; but here the scene is altered. We have here an account of the sin and misery of our first parents, the wrath and curse of God against them, the peace of the creation disturbed, and its beauty stained and sullied, all bad, very bad. "How has t”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:6: THE FALL. (Gen 3:6-9) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food--Her imagination and feelings were completely won; and the fall of Eve was soon followed by that of Adam. The history of every temptation, and of every sin, is the same; the outward object of attraction, the inward commotion of mind, the increase and triumph of passionate desire; ending in the degradation, slavery, and ruin of the soul (Jam 1:15; Jo1 2:16).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:19: till thou return unto the ground--Man became mortal; although he did not die the moment he ate the forbidden fruit, his body underwent a change, and that would lead to dissolution; the union subsisting between his soul and God having already been dissolved, he had become liable to all the miseries of this life and to the pains of hell for ever. What a mournful chapter this is in the history of man! It gives the only true account of the origin of all the physical and moral evils that are in the world; upholds the moral character of God; shows that man,”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 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. 1. From the New Testament we learn that Satan associated himself with the creature which we term the serpent, and the original the nachash, in order to seduce and ruin mankind; Co2 11:3 Rev 12:9 Rev 20:2. 2”