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What the Bible Says About Fall of Man

Overview

The Bible addresses fall of man across 25 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, Romans and 1 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Man, Women, Serpent and Sin (1). Figures whose stories touch this theme include Adam.

Key Bible verses about fall of man

Old Testament

Genesis

Genesis 2:16

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: thou: Heb. eating thou shalt eat

Genesis 2:17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. thou shalt surely: Heb. dying thou shalt die

Genesis 3:1

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? Yea: Heb. Yea, because, etc.

Genesis 3:2

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

Genesis 3:3

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.

Genesis 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Genesis 3:5

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.

Genesis 3:6

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. pleasant: Heb. a desire

Genesis 3:7

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. aprons: or, things to gird about

Genesis 3:8

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 amongst the trees of the garden. cool: Heb. wind

Genesis 3:9

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Genesis 3:10

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

Genesis 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?

Genesis 3:12

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

Genesis 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.

Genesis 3:14

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Genesis 3:15

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.

Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. to thy: or, subject to thy husband

Genesis 3:17

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Genesis 3:18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; bring: Heb. cause to bud

Genesis 3:19

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.

People in the Bible and fall of man

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying fall of man for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 2:16, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Genesis, Romans and 1 Corinthians each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Adam and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Man, Women, Serpent and Sin (1).

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about fall of man?

The Bible addresses fall of man across 25 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, Romans and 1 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Man, Women, Serpent and Sin (1). Figures whose stories touch this theme include Adam.

How many Bible verses are about fall of man?

The Bible references fall of man in 25 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention fall of man?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 2:16: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: thou: Heb. eating thou shalt eat”

Which people in the Bible are associated with fall of man?

Adam.

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