Devine Scripture

Genesis 3:8

What does Genesis 3:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 3:8 means

Adam and Eve hear God's voice in the garden, indicating His regular presence and communion with them. However, instead of joyful fellowship, their new awareness of sin and shame drives them to hide amongst the trees. This act of concealment reveals their fear and guilt, demonstrating a brokenness in their relationship with their Creator. Their hiding signifies their desire to escape divine accountability, a natural human response to transgression.

Genesis 3:8 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 they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there came to them the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening wind: and the man and his wife went to a secret place among the trees of the garden, away from the eyes of the Lord God.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they hear the sound of Jehovah God walking up and down in the garden at the breeze of the day, and the man and his wife hide themselves from the face of Jehovah God in the midst of the trees of the garden.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in paradise at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they heard the voice of Jehovah Elohim, walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And Man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah Elohim, in the midst of the trees of the garden.

Context

This verse immediately follows Adam and Eve's realization of their nakedness and their attempt to cover themselves. It shows God's consistent presence in the garden and their drastically changed reaction to it. Their hiding sets up God's direct confrontation, as He seeks them out despite their efforts to evade Him, establishing the pattern of divine initiative in seeking out fallen humanity.

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.

v.8This passage

v.9And Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Cross references

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

  • Job 31:33

    If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

  • Deuteronomy 23:14

    for Jehovah thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

  • Hebrews 4:13

    And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • 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.

  • Deuteronomy 5:25

    Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more, then we shall die.

  • Amos 9:2

    Though they dig into Sheol, thence shall my hand take them; and though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 3:8

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

  • What Genesis 3:8 teaches us about temptation

  • What Genesis 3:8 teaches us about sin and shame

  • What Genesis 3:8 teaches us about the protoevangelium

  • What Genesis 3:8 teaches us about god's mercy in judgment

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