Gen 3

Why is the serpent here likened unto a land animal?		3:1The serpent is a land animal. Not to be confused with Leviathan, the creature from the sea.
why was the serpent reckoned as more cunning than other land animals?		3:1 If we look at this story as a prophecy, then the point at which the story picks up, is at that point that the serpent has access to the woman. In other words, the fulfillment of Rev 13. the lamb-like beast.
		3:1The craftiness of the serpent is displayed as one considers the composition of the words directed to Eve. He already put "yes" in his question, then misquoting the word of God. This would force a discussion from Eve.
Where was God when eve was approached by the serpent	Eve was now at the stage where she could endure the test. As a result, during the test God stood back. The instructor will not help during the test. The time of help was before the test.
		3:1 This is a last-day type representing when the church (she) was to face her final test before receiving the gift of eternal life.
		3:4 The serpent blatantly contradicts the word of God.
Why did the woman add to the word of God and say that she should not even touch the tree of good and evil?	3:3 It is not clear why she would have added these words. Some have reasoned that she reasoned in her heart that “in order to eat the fruit I must touch it, so if I don't even touch it I cannot transgress.”	3:3 The serpent had planted this question in the mind of Eve "Why did God tell us that which was not so?" and he cunningly provided the answer to this question while she stood contemplating it.
		3:5 The serpent provides the answer for the question that he has planted. He seems to have corrupted their genuine desire to be like God, into his selfish desire of coveting God. The devil total misrepresents the Godhead to Eve. He fully convinces her that she did not need God, but could be herself a god independent of the eternal one (the Godhead).
		3:5The devil also insinuates that the eyes of Adam and Eve were closed.
		3:6 To show that the woman was fully convinced of what the devil had told her, she perceived that which was not true to be true. In this case that the tree was good for food, the tree was not good for food, because God had not declared it as such.
		3:6 Note that there is no recorded conversation between Adam and the serpent. Thus we know that Adam was not deceived. Here is a type of the mark of the beast. Eve got the mark in her head because she was deceived and Adam received it in his hand, because he sinned out of convenience.
		3:7 So it was not only the presence of God that prompted them to seek covering, it was also the fact that their eyes were "opened." They became ashamed of their nakedness and sought to cover up.
Did Adam and Eve have tools to sew the fig leaves together.	No, no tools were needed to bind the fig leaves together. The operative idea is that they mended/bonded the leaves together for a covering.	3:7 sewing just means bonding, not necessarily using a needle and thread. Eccl 3:7 and Job16:15
How did Adam eve Bind the fig leaves together	This does not seem like a relevant question.	3:7
		3:7 “Opened” means exposure. Hence knowing that they were naked is to be understood in the context of Gen 2:25 that they were now ashamed.
Who is the voice of God?	We interpret that “the voice of God” is the same person as “the Word of God.”	3:8 Jesus is presented as the voice of God. We get the impression that this was the aspect of God that related to man. Finite minds general don’t fully grasp the fact that the word of God is an actual being. In spite of the fact that John alludes to it/him becoming flesh. Jn 1:14
		3:8 The infinite God is on display as we consider the different personages that the bible speaks of him. (1 Cor 12:4-6; Rom 1:20)
		3:8 Voice means thunder. It is possible that prior to sin they were not afraid of this voice of thunder. (as in Mount Sanai with Moses and the people ex20:18; and the voice that spoke to Jesus  in the marketplace jn 12:28) However after sin, the thunderous voice became frightening. Nevertheless, we can conclude that this was a familiar voice because they could identify it as the voice of God.
Why is the Hebrew word for spirit interpreted as the "cool" of the day?	This may be an indication that this was the time of day that God and man were refreshed. They took a breath, as in the Sabbath.	3:8 Typically, it is believed that the cool of the day was the hour of prayer, the time of the evening oblation. However, this cannot be confirmed by looking at the meaning of the words used in the text alone.
		presence means face, or before (assumed meaning)
Why did Adam stay in the garden long enough to be discovered by God? Why didn't they leave on their own accord?	the innocence was still there. They did not fully realize the magnitude of what they had done, as a result they did not sense the need to hide until the presence of God was felt.	3:8 In the same way that without the law sin doesn't appear sinful, but when brought before the law the magnitude of sin is realized
		3:9 God initiates contact
		3:9 God was not asking for Adam because he did not know where he was, but rather trying to alert Adam that he (Adam) was hiding from Him (God). Something that had never occurred between the two before.
Did Adam have reason to be afraid of God? Did God previously display any characteristic that Adam should fear?	No, but the fact that Adam hides, highlights the point that with sin comes shame and guilt.	3:9
		3:10 Most people come to the conclusion that after sin, Adam speaks to God face to face; however, there is no indication in the verses that Adam comes from behind the bushes when speaking with God. Neither is there any indication that God goes behind the bushes to address Adam.
		3:10-11 It is clear that usually God would meet Adam face to face. However, because of sin, this face to face was dreaded and consequently not possible. Although God did not have to move to address Adam and the serpent, they thought that by hiding themselves they were out of his sight. Because they were not seeing God they thought they were out of his sight; but everything is before God and He did not have to come down from heaven to investigate the matter. However, we see the personality of God here on display. Where he is not a God that governs from afar, but likes to be close to his creatures. He likes to relate or be intimately associated with his creatures. Another reason we know that God asks the question that he does, is that there are onlookers. His questions may seem rhetorical, but his action gets the attention of the rest of creation. His movements are not generally private ones and consequently the actions that He takes are all public, i.e. they are open for public view and criticism, and for instruction.
		3:12 God asked two questions, however Adam totally ignores the questions and tries to pass blame. Which is the evidence that he was now fully the enemy of God. Adam blames God for his sin.
		3:13 God seems to overlook the fact that Adam is blaming Him and addresses the woman. As the crowd of witnesses look on all doubt must be erased that the two (the man and woman) are no longer the friends of God but have become the friends of the enemy.
Why is it that no questions are directed to the serpent?	Is it because the serpent is the representative of the devil and consequently no debate is needed; or is it that animals are not spirits, therefore they cannot be held accountable for their actions?
Are animals easy prey to possessions, as in the case of the pigs and the serpent in the beginning.
Did the serpent have anything to do with his possessions? Was it a chosen vessel/medium by God for the devil to use?	We get his understanding when we consider the fact that the serpent was classified above all animals, similar to how Lucifer was first classified above all angels in the beginning.
		3:14 This is where the curses start. It seems that God is here speaking of the confinement to the earth that the devil will endure.
		3:14 Although there seems to be a type here presented in this verse, there may be an entire type represented by the entire fall story.
Why was there a comparison with cattle and beasts	It seems the totality of the curse is brought into perspective by the mention of both (domestic and wild) animal	Mention is made of beast and cattle and compared to the serpent so that generality is not lost. The curse is distinct from that to be placed upon any other animal.
		It could be alluded that in the same way that Adam plunged the entire human race into sin, the serpent plunged the entire animal kingdom into sin.
Why were the creeping things and birds left out of the curse?	It seems that then the serpent was not a creeping thing or a flying thing, so he would not have been reckoned among that group.	There is no other scripture which mentions animals and God's curse, thus it seems like a safe allusion that this is where the animals are cursed. Thus the verse could be read, "you are cursed, the domestic and wild animals are cursed, but you shall go on your belly.
		its seems the word "above" was a supplied word. It is not clear why "above" would have been entered into the text. Especially when we consider that the penalty for sin is the same
		we can say that the serpent played a double role of plunging both man and beast into sin. This is fitting for the type as Lucifer. He not only plunged Angels into sin, but mankind as well.
		The entire bible seems to be written in metaphoric language. The only question which remains is, "What part of human history are we looking at?"
Do snakes actually eat dust?	This would only appear as a contradiction to somebody that is unwilling to actually examine the claims made in the Word of God. Do snakes actually consume dust? Yes! It's common knowledge that snakes dart their forked tongue out rapidly, and repeatedly. What are they doing when this is taking place? Snakes have an organ on the inside of their mouth called the "Jacobson's Organ", which helps the snake to smell things, in addition to the functionality already provided by its nose. The entire process is done through sampling bits of dust and dirt on the snakes tongue. Aside from this, snakes also attack, and consume, prey from the ground. In doing so, they would be consuming dust, too. You try eating a steak off the ground without getting some dust in your mouth. Snakes literally do lick, and eat, dust.                   http://www.thywordistrue.com/contradictions/12-do-snakes-eat-dirt
		the curse of the serpent starts in verse 14. verse 15 is only a continuation of the curse that was started in 14. It becomes clear why the heal of the seed of the woman would be bruised and why the head of the serpent was bruised. Because the two seeds battle and the point of contact is highlighted.
		The scripture is clear that the serpent is not forced to kneel but rather to lie flat on the stomach/belly, thus setting the stage for the battle in 15.
		this is where God intervenes. Verse 14 paints a really dismal picture of all living things being cursed, but then God fuses a twist in the entire story. He inserts enmity, and the place in which He puts it, causes hope to thrive.
		For more commentary on this see the son of perdition study here
What was the interpretation of this verse, before the application can be made.	Since Adam and eve had sinned they had basically become the friends of the devil. They thought like him and acted like him. They had become the full-fledged enemies of God. However, by God inserting the enmity between the woman and the serpent, it is clear that God broke up this alliance. This is a most potent thought. The woman is mentioned by name because it was she who first joined the ranks of the devil.
		Note that the curse continues from verse 14. The verse begins with the word "And"
		We know the end of the story, that the devil eventually loses the battle. However, in this verse the finality of the battle is not being emphasized. It seems that the mortal wound received by the serpent and spoken of throughout scripture is here being amplified, rather than the final destruction of the dragon. This is the book of beginnings hence this only highlights the beginning of the battle. Hereafter we will look at the conflict throughout scripture of the two seeds battling.
	.	Note that God did not say that I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and "them;" instead he mentions the woman by name. This is deliberate so as to accurately represent the type.
		3:15 Also this verse shows equality between Adam and Eve. While Adam was solely responsible for plunging the entire human race into sin, his wife Eve played an equally important role in that she would bear the seed that would deliver all from sin.
Are we interpreting this verse accurately, especially since the bruising of the head comes first then the bruising of the heal?		We have likened the crucifixion to the bruising of the heal and the imprisonment of the pope as the bruising of the head of the serpent. However, because of the sequence in which they are mentioned here in this verse, there seems to be reason to doubt the application.
What are we to understand from the fact that God multiplies her conception? Is this a blessing or a curse?	This is definitely a curse, however Adam was already told to be fruitful and multiply. It is not clear how multiplying her conception is a curse.	this verse seems to speak to the fact that only under persecution will the church grow.
It is not clear what is the meaning of conception		3:16 The first sorrow mentioned in the verse refers to toil and labor and worrisomeness. It seems that the woman was doubly cursed. She must now endure suffering from her work as well as from bearing children
If we are to identify each curse as unique based on the transgression, then we can ask the question what is the link between the woman’s curse based upon listening to the serpent?		3:16 It seems that there should be the punctuation mark of a period at “sorrow” in this verse, and the rest of the verse is just an explanation of what the details of the sorrow would be. It is clear that the woman’s sorrow is not only affiliated with the way in which she would bear children; as the fact that she will now be ruled over by her husband and the fact that her desire will be after him, is also mentioned as a part of the curse.
		3:16 Too often we explain away the woman’s suffering in just bringing children into the earth, however it can be concluded that the bringing up of the children will also be sorrowful. This too was a part of the curse. Case in point Cain and Abel.
Did the woman not desire after her husband before the fall?	We know that Adam was created before Eve, and we know that Adam sensed a need for her thus she was created. However, Eve did not have that alone time. It is plausible to think that Adam would sense a need for her, deeper than she could have sensed a need for him. In placing this desire upon Eve it seems that it would go unfulfilled. When she was created she satisfied that need in Adam, however in Adam’s presence God was saying that she would desire after her husband, and it seems the need would not be satisfied.	3:16 The woman’s desire shall be after her husband. To further complicate that curse, God says to her that the man will rule over her. Prior to now, the woman was man’s equal, co-sovereign of the planet. But now we see her being made subject to the man as an animal or anything that had been previously placed under their dominion. In the same way that the relationship between God and man was altered the relationship between man and his wife was altered. Now the man has dominion over the woman and it was not so prior to sin.
Why did God make comparison between the woman and the ground?	It seems that the punishment is based on the type of transgression. God is here making the distinction.	3:17
		3:16-17The punishment received by Adam is a type of the punishment to be received by those who take the mark of the beast in their hand. We can also conclude that the woman’s punishment is equivalent to those who received the mark in their forehead. We should note that there is a distinction in weight of the punishment received.
		3:17 For Adam it seems that he is going to be working so hard for his food, because he gets the mark in his hand i.e. the same will be true of those in the last day who will take the mark for convenience but will still face difficulty to find food.
		3:17 The food mentioned here in the text does not only refer to physical food but to the word of God as well. Prior to this point Adam had free access to the word of God. However, he would have to seek and work diligently now to find it.
What does the ground that is cursed represent in a type?	It is not clear	3:17 If the curses received were specific to the genders, then we should not expect the woman to have hardship when tilling the ground, or men to have any trouble/sorrow when raising children; however we this is not the case.
		3:17 So the curses happened as a result of the actions of Adam (male) and Eve (female), but the consequences are passed upon all.
		3:17 “For thy sake” is added to the verse and does not appear in the original.
		3:17 Prior to now men reached up to find their food. Here we are told that man must now till the ground for food.
		3:18 Adam now had permission to eat grass like the animals, as in 1:30 It is noteworthy that God did not have to go back to recreate anything which was previously made. All things were complete when they were made, able to cater to man’s every need. However; the introduction of thorns and thistles is only as a result of the “sorrow” that man must now endure.
		3:19The finality of the curse is contained in the fact that God makes the declaration that Adam will return unto the dust from which he was taken. If it were not so before, because God had now said it, it was now fact and final.
		3:19 Could it be that it was at this point that the magnitude of their sin come crushing down upon them, as God was now tells them that they were nothing but dust. How dare you think you could even come close to being like God.
Could it be that it was after Eve started having children that Adam called her Eve?	It is not clear at what time Adam named Eve. However, it is consistent to think that he would have named her at the same time that he was done naming the animals. Especially since she was presented to him in the “eve” of the seventh day	3:20 This is the first time that the woman is addressed having a name. Before sin it seems that the two were so united in one identity that there was no need for another name.
		3:21 These coats that were given to Adam and Eve were still fresh with blood, hence they were washed in the blood of the lamb. I think this refers to a symbolic type of baptism by the blood that each believer must experience. God clothed them in the skin of the lamb which is also symbolic of God putting his righteousness upon them.
		3:21 Note it was God who gave the first clothes to our fore-parents.
3:22 There is no truth in the devil. Even if he says something that is true, it is with the intent to deceive and consequently a lie. How then do we explain this claim made by God in this verse?	The devil did say that Adam and Eve would become gods, based on the statement made here by God it seems as if there was some truth to what the devil had said. The words “of us” seemed to have been supplied, thus changing the entire meaning of the verse. The verse should have read, man has become as “the one” instead of “one of us” meaning the devil, being acquainted with both sides of the spectrum. This understanding is representative of all the commentaries on this verse.	3:22
		3:22 It can be inferred from the verse that it was man’s normal practice to eat from the tree of life prior to sin. Consequently, after sin, man was forbidden to eat from the tree, so as not to immortalize sin. If he had not eaten from the tree before it would not have been an issue worth mentioning.
		3:22 According to Rev 22:14  as long as Adam was obedient to God he would have had the right to eat from the tree of life. However, he lost this right when he sinned.
		3:22 there is only one eternal being, and that is God, all other beings depend upon God to live. The term forever in this verse refers to the continued use of the tree of life. Consequently, the actions taken to withdraw that privilege
		3:23 In the same way that the devil sinned and was thrown out, the man was thrown out of the garden. Note the verse starts with “therefore,” consequently it is to be understood that this was a continuation of the thought in the previous verse.
Why is it repeated so many times that the man was taken from the ground? Was it not heard the first time it was said?	There is no doubt a lesson for the man being directly associated with ground, as it is perpetually mentioned in association with the man. As to what the lesson is we are at a loss at this moment. The contrast between God and man is highlighted as we consider that man came from dust, however God is his own beginning.	3:23 Cain the one who sinned was associated with the ground, and Abel the righteous one was associated with sheep. It seems consistent to think that there is a lesson there. We will pray for understanding of this matter.
		3:24 Although the verse only mentions the man, the Greek makes it clear that it was both of them that were driven out of the garden
		3:24 east again is not to be associated with eastern direction, but rather with the side which is foremost, meaning front of something. In this case the front of the garden.
		It was cherubs that stood at the front of the garden, and then the, flaming sword around the tree of life. The flaming sword looked something like what we would call a force field.