The Serpent was More Subtil: Seven Verses

Genesis 3:1-7 King James Version (KJV)

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

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

6 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.

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

What the seven are saying:

In these seven verses, the big conflict within the scriptures takes place. It starts out by stating the serpent (who wasn’t mention or known as a serpent in the second chapter) was more subtle than any beast of the field.

This serpent approached the woman and engaged her in conversation by asking a question. “Did God say you shall not eat of every tree of the garden,” was the question. The woman replied that they could consume the fruit of the trees of the garden, however, the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God commanded them not to.

They were ordered not to eat it or touch it unless they die, was her response. The serpent played down her reply and worry; “Ye shall not surely die!” The serpent mixed a lie with some truth; he knew God’s plans were to make the man into immortal beings, just as He is.

The Serpent was More Subtil

He told the woman that the Sovereign Creator knows that when you eat (from the tree of knowledge of good and evil) her eyes would become able to know good and evil. They will indeed become like gods, they can set their own table.

The woman was persuaded and influenced; she perceived the tree was good to consume (as information) and it was pleasant to view. She acknowledged the tree as one that could make one wise, she then took the fruit and consumed it.

To consummate the agreement between mankind and the serpent, she took the fruit (information) back to her husband and he consumed also. They were no longer closed to their condition, their eyes were opened; they knew they were naked.

Thus, they sewed fig leaves together and made aprons or garments to cover their backside and privates. Seven verses!

Selah

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