Devine Scripture

Genesis 3:6

What does Genesis 3:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 3:6 means

Eve's decision to eat from the forbidden tree stems from a three-fold appeal: the fruit's apparent goodness for food (physical desire), its delightfulness to the eyes (aesthetic appeal), and its perceived ability to impart wisdom (intellectual and spiritual ambition). Her senses and intellect were swayed by the serpent's lies, leading her to prioritize her own desires over God's clear command. Adam's simultaneous partaking emphasizes his shared responsibility in this foundational act of disobedience.

Genesis 3:6 in context

Genesis 3 — The Fall of Man

Into the garden of the previous chapter comes the serpent, more subtle than any beast of the field. He casts doubt on God's word, then on God's goodness, and at last persuades the woman that the way to be like God is to disobey him. Adam, present and silent, eats with her. Innocence collapses into shame; communion with God gives way to hiding; the man blames the woman, the woman blames the serpent, and creation itself is cursed. Yet at the very moment of judgment a promise is given: the seed of the woman will crush the serpent's head (3:15). It is the gospel in seed form.

  • Temptation
  • Sin and shame
  • The protoevangelium
  • God's mercy in judgment

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and a delight to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and gave it to her husband.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the woman seeth that the tree <FI>is<Fi> good for food, and that it <FI>is<Fi> pleasant to the eyes, and the tree is desirable to make <FI>one<Fi> wise, and she taketh of its fruit and eateth, and giveth also to her husband with her, and he doth eat;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a pleasure for the eyes, and the tree was to be desired to give intelligence; and she took of its fruit, and ate, and gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Context

This is the climactic moment of the temptation and the fall. It follows the serpent's deceptive promises of god-like knowledge and the denial of death. The woman's careful consideration of the tree based on these lies directly leads to her act of eating and sharing, fulfilling the serpent's evil design. This verse sets in motion the immediate consequences and God's subsequent confrontation with humanity.

v.5for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

v.6This passage

v.7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 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 toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • James 1:14

    but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 24:21

    Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

  • Joshua 7:21

    when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 3:6

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Genesis 3:6 teaches us about temptation

  • What Genesis 3:6 teaches us about sin and shame

  • What Genesis 3:6 teaches us about the protoevangelium

  • What Genesis 3:6 teaches us about god's mercy in judgment

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