02-02

a snake

Some scholars think the snake represents Satan. Other scholars think the snake was a real snake, and that Satan was the one who was speaking through it.

Did God really tell you not to eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?

The snake asked this question to cause the woman to think about the things that God told her not to do, instead of the things he said she could do.

02-03

good

Something is good if it fits with God’s character, purposes, and will. Good is the opposite of evil.

evil

Something is evil if it is opposed to God’s holy character and will. Evil is the opposite of good.

or even touch it

God told the man and the woman not to eat the fruit of that tree, but he did not tell them not to touch it.

02-04

That is not true!

The snake now plainly implied that God was a liar.

will understand good and evil like he does

They already understood good from what God had done for them. Now the snake says they will also understand evil. The snake spoke as if this was good for them. Instead, understanding evil would cause them to die.

02-05

The woman saw

The woman decide to eat the fruit because of what she saw, instead of rejecting it because of what God had said.

he ate it, too

The man also decided to eat the fruit, even though he knew that God had told him not to do that.

02-06

They tried to cover their bodies

Before this time, people were not ashamed, and did not have any reason to be ashamed. Their shame began when they disobeyed God.

02-07

Where are you?

God knew where Adam was. He asked this question to make Adam say that he had disobeyed God.

They both hid from God

When people sin, they feel shame. They know that they have done wrong and that God is angry with them.

02-08

Did you eat the fruit I told you not to eat?

Adam did not answer the question, but instead blamed the woman. He also meant to blame God who gave the woman to him.

What have you done?

The woman also refused to answer God. Instead, she blamed the snake.

02-09

You are cursed!

This means that God will cause bad things to happen to the snake because he deceived the woman.

You and the woman will hate each other, and your children and her children will hate each other, too.

People and snakes became enemies at this time, and still hate each other.

The woman’s descendant

Most scholars think this refers to the Messiah who would later rescue people from Satan.

will crush your head

Most scholars think this means the woman’s descendant will fatally wound Satan.

will wound his heel

Most scholars think this means Satan will wound the Messiah.

02-10

he will rule over you

God will punish the woman by giving her husband power over her.

02-11

work hard to grow food

Because the man ate the fruit his wife gave him, God would make it hard for him to grow food to eat.

your body will return to soil

Adam was made from soil (See: 01:10). When he died, his body would become soil again.

Eve, which means life-giver,

The name Eve sounds like the Hebrew word that means living.

God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins

Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with leaves (See: 02:06). God did not accept that. Instead, he covered them with the skins of animals. This is the first instance of animals being sacrificed in order to cover the sins of people.

02-12

they must not be allowed to eat the fruit of the tree of life and live forever

Adam and Eve were now sinners and ashamed. God did not want them to live forever in that condition. Therefore, he did not allow them to eat from the tree of life.

the tree of life

This is the same tree God planted in the garden (See: 01:11).

angels

An angel is a powerful spirit being whom God created. Angels exist to serve God by doing whatever he tells them to do.