Genesis 3:12

3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

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

KJV

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The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

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

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

3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

What does Genesis 3:12 mean?

Genesis 3:12 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָדָם (ʼâdâm), אָמַר (ʼâmar), אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

the

manאָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

said,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

The

womanאִשָּׁהʼishshâh/ish-shaw'/H802a woman

whom

thou

gavestנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

with

me,עִמָּדʻimmâd/im-mawd'/H5978along with

sheהוּאhûwʼ/hoo/H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are

gaveנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

the

tree,עֵץʻêts/ates/H6086a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

and

did

eat.אָכַלʼâkal/aw-kal'/H398to eat (literally or figuratively)

Commentary on Genesis 3:12

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 3:11–12

ps">Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. We have here the arraignment of these deserters before the righteous Judge of heaven and earth, who, though he is not tied to observe formalities, yet proceeds against them with all possible fairness, that he may be justified when he speaks. Observe here, I. The startling question with which God pursued Adam and arrested him: Where art thou? Not as if God did not know where he was; but thus he would enter the process against him. "Come, where is this foolish man?" Some make it a bemoaning question: "Poor Adam, what has become of thee?" " Alas for thee! " (so some read it) " How art thou fallen, Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou that wast my friend and favourite, whom I had done so much for, and would have done so much more for; hast thou now forsaken me, and ruined thyself? Has it come to this?" It is rather an upbraiding question, in order to his conviction and humiliation: Where art thou? Not, In what place? but, In what condition? "Is this all thou hast gotten by eating forbidden fruit? Thou that wouldest vie with me, dost thou now fly from me?" Note, 1. Those who by sin have gone astray from God should seriously consider where they are; they are afar off from all good, in the midst of their enemies, in bondage to Satan, and in the high road to utter ruin. This enquiry after Adam may be looked upon as a gracious pursuit, in kindness to him, and in order to his recovery. If God had not called to him, to reclaim him, his condition would have been as desperate as that of fallen angels; this lost sheep would have wandered endlessly, if the good Shepherd had not sought after him, to bring him back, and, in order to that, reminded him where he was, where he should not be, and where he could not be either happy or easy. Note, 2. If sinners will but consider where they are, they will not rest till they return to God. II. The trembling answer which Adam gave to this question: I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, v. 10 . He does not own his guilt, and yet in effect confesses it by owning his shame and fear; but it is the common fault and folly of those that have done an ill thing, when they are questioned about it, to acknowledge no more than what is so manifest that they cannot deny it. Adam was afraid, because he was naked; not only unarmed, and therefore afraid to contend with God, but unclothed, and therefore afraid so much as to appear before him. We have reason to be afraid of approaching to God if we be not clothed and fenced with the righteousness of Christ, for nothing but this will be armour of proof and cover the shame of our nakedness. Let us therefore put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and then draw near with humble boldness. 11 And he said, Who told the

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 2:18

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. meet: Heb. as before him

Genesis 2:20

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. gave: Heb. called

Genesis 2:22

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. made: Heb. builded

Exodus 32:21

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

1 Samuel 15:20

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

Job 31:33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: as Adam: or, after the manner of men

Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Proverbs 28:13

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Luke 10:29

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

James 1:13

Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: evil: or, evils

Topics

Excuses Fall of Man Man Serpent Sin Sin (1)Temptation Tree Woman Women

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 3:12.

Ezra 10:10

And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. have taken: Heb. have caused to dwell, or, have brought back

Ezra 10:11

Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Ezra 10:19

And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.

Ezra 10:2

And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

Nehemiah 2:7

Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

Nehemiah 2:8

And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

Nehemiah 4:14

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Nehemiah 5:7

Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. I consulted: Heb. my heart consulted in me

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 3:12 say?

Genesis 3:12 (King James Version) reads: "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat."

Is Genesis 3:12 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 3:12 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 3:12, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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