1Or, le serpent de l'intellect était extrêmement rusé dans tous les êtres vivants en croissance, que YEHOVAH Dieu avait faits; et il dit à la femme: Quoi! Dieu aurait dit: Vous ne mangerez point de tout arbre du jardin! Or, ce raisonnement rusé était extrêmement subtil dans tous les êtres vivants en expansion d'existence que YEHOVAH Dieu avait faits; et il dit en la femme: Quoi! Dieu aurait-il dit: Vous ne posséderez point de toutes les assurances de l'Enceinte? 2Et la femme répondit au serpent: Nous mangeons du fruit des arbres du jardin; Et la femme répliqua à ce raisonnement rusé: Nous recevons la grâce des assurances de l'Enceinte; 3Mais quant au fruit de l'arbre qui est au milieu du jardin, Dieu a dit: Vous n'en mangerez point, et vous n'y toucherez point, de peur que vous ne mouriez. Mais quant à l'avantage de l'assurance de l'indépendance qui est au milieu de l'Enceinte, Dieu a dit: Vous n'en posséderez point, et vous n'en saisirez point, de peur que vous ne mouriez. 4Alors le serpent dit à la femme: Vous ne mourrez nullement; Alors le raisonnement dit en la femme: Vous ne mourrez nullement; 5Mais Dieu sait qu'au jour où vous en mangerez, vos yeux s'ouvriront, et vous serez comme des dieux, connaissant le bien et le mal. Mais Dieu sait qu'au jour où vous en utiliserez, vos yeux s'ouvriront, et vous serez comme des dieux, connaissant le bien et le mal. 6Et la femme vit que le fruit de l'arbre était bon à manger, et qu'il était agréable à la vue, et que l'arbre était désirable pour devenir intelligent; et elle prit de son fruit et en mangea, et en donna aussi à son mari auprès d'elle, et il en mangea. Et sa réalisation considéra que l'avantage de cette assurance était favorable à la réception de son existence, et qu'elle était convenable à sa perception, et que cette assurance était désirable pour devenir intelligent; et elle prit de son avantage et le reçu, et en donna aussi à son mari auprès d'elle, et il l'accepta. 7Et les yeux de tous deux s'ouvrirent; et ils réalisèrent qu'ils étaient très rusés; et ils cousirent des feuilles de figuier, et se firent des ceintures. Et les yeux de tous deux s'ouvrirent; et ils connurent qu'ils étaient découverts; et ils lièrent les élévations de l'outrage ensemble, et se firent des restrictions. 8Et ils entendirent la voix de YEHOVAH Dieu, qui se promenait dans le jardin, au vent du jour. Et Adam et sa femme se cachèrent de devant la face de YEHOVAH Dieu, au milieu des arbres du jardin. Et ils entendirent l'appel irrésistible de YEHOVAH Dieu, qui vint dans l'Esprit chaleureux de l'Enceinte de sa Grâce. Et Adam et sa femme se cachèrent de devant la face de YEHOVAH Dieu, au milieu des assurances de l'Enceinte. 9Et YEHOVAH Dieu appela Adam, et lui dit: Où es-tu? 10Et il répondit: J'ai entendu ta voix dans le jardin, et j'ai craint, parce que je suis rusé; et je me suis caché. Et il répondit: J'ai entendu ton appel dans l'Enceinte de la grâce, et j'ai craint, parce que je suis rusé; et je me suis caché. 11Et Dieu dit: Qui t'a montré que tu es rusé? As-tu mangé de l'arbre dont je t'avais ordonné de ne pas manger? Et Dieu dit: Qui t'a montré que tu es rusé? N'as-tu pas saisi l'assurance dont je t'avais ordonné de ne pas te procurer? 12Et Adam répondit: La femme que tu as mise auprès de moi, m'a donné du fruit de l'arbre, et j'en ai mangé. Et Adam répondit: La femme que tu as mise auprès de moi, m'a donné de l'avantage de l'assurance de l'indépendance, et je l'ai accepté. 13Et YEHOVAH Dieu dit à la femme: Pourquoi as-tu fait cela? Et la femme répondit: Le serpent m'a séduite, et j'en ai mangé. Et YEHOVAH Dieu dit à la femme: Pourquoi as-tu fait cela? Et la femme répondit: Le raisonnement de ma chair m'a séduite, et je m'en suis procuré. 14Alors YEHOVAH Dieu dit au serpent: Puisque tu as fait cela, tu seras maudit entre toutes les bêtes et entre tous les animaux des champs; tu marcheras sur ton ventre, et tu mangeras la poussière tous les jours de ta vie. Alors YEHOVAH Dieu dit au de raisonnement de l'être humain: Puisque tu as fait cela, tu seras maudit entre tous les sages d'entre les êtres vivants en croissance de leur existence; ta progression paraîtra ainsi: tu te nourriras de tes imperfections tous les jours de ta vie. 15Et je mettrai de l'hostilité entre toi et la femme, entre ta semence et son GERME: celui-ci écrasera ton agitation, et toi tu contrarieras ses pas. Et je mettrai de l'hostilité entre toi et ton existence, entre ta postérité et son GERME: Celui-ci écrasera ton agitation, et toi tu contrarieras ses pas. 16Il dit à la femme: J'augmenterai grandement l'indisposition de ta grossesse; dans le sang tu enfanteras des enfants avec douleur, et tu voudras exercer le contrôle sur ton mari, mais il dominera sur toi. Il dit à la l'existence: J'augmenterai grandement l'indisposition de ta grossesse; dans le sang tu enfanteras des puissances avec douleur, et tu voudras exercer le contrôle sur ton vivant, mais il dominera sur toi. 17Et il dit à Adam: Puisque tu as obéi à la voix de ta femme, et que tu as mangé de l'arbre au sujet duquel je t'avais donné cet ordre: Tu n'en mangeras point! le sol sera maudit à cause de toi; tu en mangeras les fruits avec peine tous les jours de ta vie. Et il dit à la race humaine: Puisque tu as obéie à la voix de ton existence, et que tu t'es procurée de l'assurance de l'indépendance au sujet duquel je t'avais donné cet ordre: Tu n'en recevras point! le fondement de l'Enceinte sera maudit à cause de toi; tu réaliseras ses avantages avec peine tous les jours de ta vie. 18Et il te produira des épines et des chardons; et tu mangeras l'herbe des champs. Et il te produira des irritations et des épreuves; et tu te ruineras en réfléchissant grandement. 19Tu mangeras le pain à la sueur de ton visage, jusqu'à ce que tu retournes dans la terre, d'où tu as été pris; car tu es poussière, et tu retourneras dans la poussière. 20Or, l'être humain appela son existence, Vie, parce que la vie fut la mère de tous les vivants. 21Et YEHOVAH Dieu fit à Adam et à sa femme des robes de peau, et les en revêtit. Et YEHOVAH Dieu fit à la race humaine et à son existence de sévères réprimandes, et les endossa. 22Et YEHOVAH Dieu dit: Voici, l'homme est devenu comme l'un de nous, pour la connaissance du bien et du mal. Et maintenant prenons garde qu'il n'avance sa main, et ne prenne aussi de l'arbre de vie, et qu'il n'en mange, et ne vive à toujours. Et YEHOVAH Dieu dit: Voici, l'être humain est devenu comme l'un de nous, pour la connaissance du bien et du mal. Et maintenant prenons garde qu'il n'avance sa main, et ne prenne aussi de l'assurance de la vie, et qu'il n'en reçoive, et ne vive à toujours. 23Et YEHOVAH Dieu le fit sortir du jardin d'Éden, pour maîtriser la terre d'où il avait été pris. Et YEHOVAH Dieu le fit sortir de l'Enceinte de Grâce, pour maîtriser la terre d'où il avait été pris. 24Il chassa donc l'homme; et il plaça à l'orient du jardin d'Éden les Voyants et la lame d'épée flamboyante, pour garder le chemin de l'arbre de vie. Il chassa donc l'être humain; et il plaça au devant de l'Enclos de sa Grâce des perceptions, et une désolation qui renverse l'être pour la conversion, dans le but de préserver l'assurance de la vie.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE TEMPTATION. (
Gen 3:1-
Gen 3:5)
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 visible world--yet in the fuller discoveries of the Gospel, it is distinctly intimated that Satan was the author of the plot (
John 8:44;
2Cor 11:3;
1John 3:8;
1Tim 2:14;
Rev 20:2).
more subtile--Serpents are proverbial for wisdom (
Matt 10:16). But these reptiles were at first, probably, far superior in beauty as well as in sagacity to what they are in their present state.
He said--There being in the pure bosoms of the first pair no principle of evil to work upon, a solicitation to sin could come only from "without," as in the analogous case of Jesus Christ (
Matt 4:3); and as the tempter could not assume the human form, there being only Adam and Eve in the world, the agency of an inferior creature had to be employed. The dragon-serpent [BOCHART] seemed the fittest for the vile purpose; and the devil was allowed by Him who permitted the trial, to bring articulate sounds from its mouth.
unto the woman--the object of attack, from his knowledge of her frailty, of her having been but a short time in the world, her limited experience of the animal tribes, and, above all, her being alone, unfortified by the presence and counsels of her husband. Though sinless and holy, she was a free agent, liable to be tempted and seduced.
yea, hath God said?--Is it true that He has restricted you in using the fruits of this delightful place? This is not like one so good and kind. Surely there is some mistake. He insinuated a doubt as to her sense of the divine will and appeared as an angel of light (
2Cor 11:14), offering to lead her to the true interpretation. It was evidently from her regarding him as specially sent on that errand, that, instead of being startled by the reptile's speaking, she received him as a heavenly messenger.
2 the woman said, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden--In her answer, Eve extolled the large extent of liberty they enjoyed in ranging at will amongst all the trees--one only excepted, with respect to which, she declared there was no doubt, either of the prohibition or the penalty. But there is reason to think that she had already received an injurious impression; for in using the words "lest ye die," instead of "ye shall surely die" [
Gen 2:17], she spoke as if the tree had been forbidden because of some poisonous quality of its fruit. The tempter, perceiving this, became bolder in his assertions.
4 Ye shall not surely die--He proceeded, not only to assure her of perfect impunity, but to promise great benefits from partaking of it.
5 your eyes shall be opened--His words meant more than met the ear. In one sense her eyes were opened; for she acquired a direful experience of "good and evil"--of the happiness of a holy, and the misery of a sinful, condition. But he studiously concealed this result from Eve, who, fired with a generous desire for knowledge, thought only of rising to the rank and privileges of her angelic visitants.
6 THE FALL. (
Gen 3:6-
Gen 3:9)
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 (
Jas 1:15;
1John 2:16).
8 they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden--The divine Being appeared in the same manner as formerly--uttering the well-known tones of kindness, walking in some visible form (not running hastily, as one impelled by the influence of angry feelings). How beautifully expressive are these words of the familiar and condescending manner in which He had hitherto held intercourse with the first pair.
in the cool of the day--literally, "the breeze of the day," the evening.
hid themselves amongst the trees of the garden--Shame, remorse, fear--a sense of guilt--feelings to which they had hitherto been strangers disordered their minds and led them to shun Him whose approach they used to welcome. How foolish to think of eluding His notice (
Ps 139:1-
Ps 139:12).
10 THE EXAMINATION. (
Gen 3:10-
Gen 3:13)
afraid, because . . . naked--apparently, a confession--the language of sorrow; but it was evasive--no signs of true humility and penitence--each tries to throw the blame on another.
12 The woman . . . gave me--He blames God [CALVIN]. As the woman had been given him for his companion and help, he had eaten of the tree from love to her; and perceiving she was ruined, was determined not to survive her [M'KNIGHT].
13 beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.
14 THE SENTENCE. (
Gen 3:14-
Gen 3:24)
And the Lord God said unto the serpent--The Judge pronounces a doom: first, on the material serpent, which is cursed above all creatures. From being a model of grace and elegance in form, it has become the type of all that is odious, disgusting, and low [LE CLERC, ROSENMULLER]; or the curse has converted its natural condition into a punishment; it is now branded with infamy and avoided with horror; next, on the spiritual serpent, the seducer. Already fallen, he was to be still more degraded and his power wholly destroyed by the offspring of those he had deceived.
15 thy seed--not only evil spirits, but wicked men.
seed of the woman--the Messiah, or His Church [CALVIN, HENGSTENBERG].
I will put enmity between thee and the woman--God can only be said to do so by leaving "the serpent and his seed to the influence of their own corruption; and by those measures which, pursued for the salvation of men, fill Satan and his angels with envy and rage."
thou shalt bruise his heel--The serpent wounds the heel that crushes him; and so Satan would be permitted to afflict the humanity of Christ and bring suffering and persecution on His people.
it shall bruise thy head--The serpent's poison is lodged in its head; and a bruise on that part is fatal. Thus, fatal shall be the stroke which Satan shall receive from Christ, though it is probable he did not at first understand the nature and extent of his doom.
16 unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow--She was doomed as a wife and mother to suffer pain of body and distress of mind. From being the help meet of man and the partner of his affections [
Gen 2:18,
Gen 2:23], her condition would henceforth be that of humble subjection.
17 unto Adam he said--made to gain his livelihood by tilling the ground; but what before his fall he did with ease and pleasure, was not to be accomplished after it without painful and persevering exertion.
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, made upright, fell from not being able to resist a slight temptation; and becoming guilty and miserable, plunged all his posterity into the same abyss (
Rom 5:12). How astonishing the grace which at that moment gave promise of a Saviour and conferred on her who had the disgrace of introducing sin the future honor of introducing that Deliverer (
1Tim 2:15).
20 Adam called his wife's name Eve--probably in reference to her being a mother of the promised Saviour, as well as of all mankind.
21 God made coats of skins--taught them to make these for themselves. This implies the institution of animal sacrifice, which was undoubtedly of divine appointment, and instruction in the only acceptable mode of worship for sinful creatures, through faith in a Redeemer (
Heb 9:22).
22 And God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us--not spoken in irony as is generally supposed, but in deep compassion. The words should be rendered, "Behold, what has become [by sin] of the man who was as one of us"! Formed, at first, in our image to know good and evil--how sad his condition now.
and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life--This tree being a pledge of that immortal life with which obedience should be rewarded, man lost, on his fall, all claim to this tree; and therefore, that he might not eat of it or delude himself with the idea that eating of it would restore what he had forfeited, the Lord sent him forth from the garden.
24 placed . . . cherbim--The passage should be rendered thus: "And he dwelt between the cherubim at the East of the Garden of Eden and a fierce fire, or Shekinah, unfolding itself to preserve the way of the tree of life." This was the mode of worship now established to show God's anger at sin and teach the mediation of a promised Saviour as the way of life, as well as of access to God. They were the same figures as were afterwards in the tabernacle and temple; and now, as then, God said, "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims" (
Exod 25:22).