Devine Scripture

Genesis 3:9

What does Genesis 3:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 3:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 3:9 means

God's question, "Where art thou?" is not born of ignorance but of divine initiative and concern. It serves as an invitation for Adam to confess and acknowledge his sin. God, in His grace, seeks out the man and provides an opportunity for repentance, even in the midst of their disobedience. This question highlights God's continued engagement with humanity, even after their fall.

Genesis 3:9 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 Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the voice of the Lord God came to the man, saying, Where are you?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jehovah God calleth unto the man, and saith to him, `Where <FI>art<Fi> thou?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord God called Adam, and said to him: Where art thou?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jehovah Elohim called to Man, and said to him, Where art thou?

Context

This verse is God's direct address to Adam, following Adam and Eve's attempt to hide from Him. It initiates the divine inquiry into their changed behavior and the cause of their fear. This question is a prelude to the full confrontation and judgment, giving Adam the first chance to respond to God concerning his actions, leading directly to his confession of fear.

v.8And 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.

v.9This passage

v.10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Cross references

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

  • Genesis 16:8

    And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, whence camest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.

  • Joshua 7:17

    and he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zerahites: and he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:

  • Genesis 4:9

    And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?

  • Genesis 11:5

    And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

  • Revelation 20:12

    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe bookof life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  • Genesis 18:20

    And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Sermon ideas from Genesis 3:9

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

  • What Genesis 3:9 teaches us about temptation

  • What Genesis 3:9 teaches us about sin and shame

  • What Genesis 3:9 teaches us about the protoevangelium

  • What Genesis 3:9 teaches us about god's mercy in judgment

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