Genesis 3:10

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, I heard {H8085} thy voice {H6963} in the garden {H1588}, and I was afraid {H3372}, because I {H595} was naked {H5903}; and I hid myself {H2244}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Berean Standard Bible

“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 3:10 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, capturing Adam's immediate and profound confession to God following humanity's first act of disobedience. His words, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself," unveil the swift and devastating psychological and spiritual consequences of sin: an overwhelming sense of fear, profound shame, and an instinctive impulse to conceal oneself from the holy presence of God. This verse vividly portrays the abrupt rupture of innocent communion and the tragic birth of guilt in the human heart, setting the stage for the unfolding drama of redemption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is Adam's direct and telling response to God's tender yet probing question in [Genesis 3:9](/genesis/3-9 "God's Call to Adam"). It immediately follows the pivotal act of disobedience detailed in [Genesis 3:6](/genesis/3-6 "The Fall: Adam and Eve's Disobedience"), where Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. Prior to this, [Genesis 2:25](/genesis/2-25 "Innocent Nakedness Before the Fall") explicitly states they were "naked and were not ashamed." The shift from unashamed nakedness to a profound sense of shame and fear is the central dramatic tension leading into Adam's confession in verse 10. This verse serves as the initial verbal articulation of humanity's fallen state and the immediate psychological impact of sin, setting the stage for God's judgment and subsequent promise of redemption.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Garden of Eden, a pristine, divinely created sanctuary where humanity enjoyed unhindered fellowship with God. In ancient Near Eastern thought, gardens were often symbolic of divine presence and blessing. The concept of "nakedness" (Hebrew: *ʻêyrôm*) in this context transcends mere physical exposure; it carries connotations of vulnerability, dishonor, and even spiritual destitution, especially when contrasted with the prior state of innocence. Hiding from a deity was a common human response to perceived transgression in many ancient cultures, reflecting an innate understanding of divine judgment and the desire to escape its consequences. The "cool of the day" (mentioned in [Genesis 3:8](/genesis/3-8 "God Walking in the Garden")) refers to the evening breeze, a time when God would typically walk and commune with Adam and Eve, highlighting the stark contrast between prior joyful fellowship and the new reality of fear and concealment.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 3:10 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It introduces the theme of **the immediate consequences of sin**, demonstrating that transgression brings not only external judgment but also profound internal disruption, manifesting as fear, shame, and a desire for concealment. This verse also underscores the **holiness of God** and the inherent incompatibility of sin with His presence, as Adam's fear is a direct response to being exposed before perfect righteousness. Furthermore, it highlights the theme of **broken fellowship** between God and humanity, a relationship once characterized by open communion now fractured by sin and marked by estrangement. This brokenness is a foundational theme that permeates human history and is ultimately addressed through God's redemptive plan, foreshadowed even in the subsequent verses of [Genesis 3](/genesis/3 "The Fall and its Aftermath").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **garden (Hebrew, _gan'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to fence," this word denotes an enclosed, protected space. In [Genesis 3:10](/genesis/3-10 "Adam's Confession of Fear and Shame"), the "garden" is no longer a place of uninhibited communion but has become a setting for fear and concealment, ironically transforming from a sanctuary of fellowship into a place where Adam attempts to hide from his Creator.
* **afraid (Hebrew, _yârêʼ'_):** This primitive root signifies to fear, dread, or be terrified. While *yârêʼ* can also denote reverential awe, in this context, coupled with Adam's subsequent actions, it clearly expresses a profound terror and apprehension stemming from guilt and the anticipation of divine judgment. It marks a departure from the innocent awe of creation to a paralyzing dread of the Creator.
* **naked (Hebrew, _ʻêyrôm'_):** This term refers to nudity or nakedness. Prior to the Fall, Adam and Eve's nakedness (as seen in [Genesis 2:25](/genesis/2-25 "Adam and Eve's Innocent Nakedness")) was a sign of their innocence, transparency, and lack of shame. Here, in [Genesis 3:10](/genesis/3-10 "Adam's Confession of Fear and Shame"), it has transformed into a symbol of vulnerability, exposed guilt, and spiritual destitution, prompting shame and the desperate need for concealment.
* **hid myself (Hebrew, _châbâʼ'_):** This primitive root means "to secrete," "to hide (self)," or "to do secretly." Adam's act of hiding is the immediate, instinctive human response to guilt and shame before a holy God. It signifies a futile attempt to escape divine scrutiny and represents the initial rupture of open fellowship, setting a pattern for humanity's subsequent attempts to conceal sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said,"**: This phrase introduces Adam's direct response to God's question in [Genesis 3:9](/genesis/3-9 "God's Call to Adam"). It marks the beginning of humanity's first verbal confession of sin and its immediate impact, revealing Adam's internal state.
* **"I heard thy voice in the garden,"**: Adam acknowledges God's presence and the familiar sound of His voice. This highlights the stark contrast between the previous joyful anticipation of God's presence and the current dread it now evokes, demonstrating how sin transforms even the most comforting elements of life in the garden.
* **"and I was afraid,"**: This is the core emotional consequence of Adam's sin. The fear is not a reverential awe but a terror born of a guilty conscience exposed before perfect holiness. It signifies the immediate internal disruption caused by transgression, a profound discomfort in God's presence.
* **"because I was naked;"**: Adam identifies the reason for his fear. His physical nakedness, once a symbol of innocence, has become a profound spiritual and emotional realization of his fallen state. It represents his vulnerability, guilt, and the exposure of his rebellion before a holy God, driving his shame.
* **"and I hid myself."**: This final clause describes Adam's immediate, instinctive action. It is humanity's first attempt to escape the divine gaze, a futile effort to sever the intimate fellowship that once defined their existence. This impulse to hide is a universal human response to guilt, signifying the broken communion and the desire for self-preservation from divine judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 3:10 is rich with literary devices that underscore its theological significance. **Irony** is prominent, as the "garden," once a place of intimate communion and delight, becomes the very location where Adam feels compelled to hide from God. This reversal highlights the devastating impact of sin on creation and relationship. **Symbolism** is central, with Adam's "nakedness" transitioning from a state of innocent transparency in [Genesis 2:25](/genesis/2-25 "Adam and Eve's Innocent Nakedness") to a powerful symbol of shame, vulnerability, and exposed guilt after the Fall. The act of "hiding myself" serves as a profound **metaphor** for humanity's universal impulse to conceal sin and escape divine scrutiny, illustrating the estrangement that sin creates. The verse also employs **confession** as a narrative device, revealing Adam's internal state and the immediate psychological fallout of his disobedience, making his words a raw and honest admission of guilt and fear.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 3:10 serves as a foundational text for understanding the immediate and profound consequences of sin on the human condition. It reveals that sin's impact is not merely external punishment but an internal disruption, manifesting as fear, shame, and a desperate impulse to hide from God. This verse underscores the inherent holiness of God, before whom unrighteousness cannot stand, and highlights the universal human experience of guilt following transgression. The act of hiding signifies the rupture of the intimate, open communion humanity once enjoyed with God, establishing a pattern of estrangement that permeates human history. Yet, even in this moment of hiding, God initiates the conversation, calling out to Adam, foreshadowing His continuous pursuit of humanity for reconciliation.

* [Psalm 139:7-12](/psalms/139-7-12 "You Cannot Hide From God")
* [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Sin Separates Us From God")
* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "All Things Are Naked Before God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 3:10 serves as a timeless mirror reflecting the universal human condition. It profoundly illustrates our innate tendency to hide our sins and shame, not only from God but often from ourselves and others. This instinctive desire to cover our transgressions stems from the same fear and shame Adam experienced, a deep-seated discomfort with being exposed in our brokenness. Yet, this verse also subtly highlights God's unwavering initiative in pursuing humanity, reminding us that true peace and restoration come not from futile attempts to conceal our brokenness, but from humbly confessing it and embracing God's boundless grace and forgiveness. It challenges us to examine what we might be hiding from God and to recognize that only in His presence, through confession and repentance, can our spiritual nakedness be truly covered and our fellowship restored.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "fig leaves" or hiding places we construct in our own lives to conceal our shame or guilt from God and others?**
* **How does the fear Adam experienced resonate with our own anxieties or discomfort when confronted with our sin?**
* **In what ways does this verse encourage us to be honest and transparent with God, rather than attempting to hide?**
* **How does God's initiative in calling out to Adam ("Where art thou?") inform our understanding of His character and His desire for relationship with us today?**

### FAQ
**Why was Adam afraid of being naked now, but not before?**

Answer: Before sin, Adam and Eve's nakedness, as described in [Genesis 2:25](/genesis/2-25 "Adam and Eve's Innocent Nakedness"), symbolized their innocence, purity, and complete transparency before God and each other. There was no shame because there was no sin. After their disobedience in [Genesis 3:6](/genesis/3-6 "The Fall: Adam and Eve's Disobedience"), their eyes were "opened" not merely to physical sight but to the spiritual reality of their transgression. Their nakedness then became a profound symbol of their guilt, vulnerability, and exposed rebellion before a holy God, leading to an overwhelming sense of shame and fear of divine judgment.

**What does "hid myself" signify in this context?**

Answer: Adam's act of hiding signifies humanity's first, instinctive attempt to escape the divine presence due to guilt and shame. It is a futile effort to conceal their sin and its consequences from the all-seeing God, as [Psalm 139:7-12](/psalms/139-7-12 "You Cannot Hide From God") powerfully illustrates that one cannot flee from God's Spirit or presence. This act symbolizes the immediate rupture of the intimate fellowship that once existed between God and humanity, establishing a pattern of estrangement and the human tendency to self-concealment in the face of wrongdoing.

**Is Adam's fear a fear of God Himself, or a fear of the consequences of his actions?**

Answer: Adam's fear is primarily a fear rooted in guilt and the anticipated consequences of his disobedience. While it involves a dread of God's judgment and the exposure of his sin before a holy God, it stems from his internal awareness of transgression. It is not the reverential awe (often translated as "fear of the Lord") that leads to wisdom and obedience, but rather a terror born of a broken relationship and a guilty conscience, as distinct from the healthy respect for God's power and holiness that can lead to life.

**How does this verse relate to the human experience today?**

Answer: [Genesis 3:10](/genesis/3-10 "Adam's Confession of Fear and Shame") illustrates the universal human experience of guilt, shame, and the impulse to hide when we transgress. Just as sin created a barrier between Adam and God, it continues to create barriers between humanity and God, and often between individuals. This verse reminds us that our natural inclination is to cover our sins and avoid accountability, rather than to confess and seek reconciliation. It underscores the ongoing need for a divine solution to the problem of human sin and shame.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Adam's desperate attempt to cover his nakedness with fig leaves in [Genesis 3:7](/genesis/3-7 "Adam and Eve Make Fig Leaf Coverings") and his subsequent confession of fear and hiding in [Genesis 3:10](/genesis/3-10 "Adam's Confession of Fear and Shame") powerfully foreshadow humanity's inherent inability to atone for its own sin or hide from God's gaze. This narrative sets the stage for the ultimate solution found in Jesus Christ. Just as God mercifully provided animal skins to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness in [Genesis 3:21](/genesis/3-21 "God Provides Garments of Skin"), prefiguring a sacrifice, Christ's atoning work on the cross provides the perfect, divine covering for our sins. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through Christ, the shame and fear that Adam experienced are overcome; we are clothed in His righteousness, enabling us to boldly approach God's throne of grace with confidence, not fear ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Approach God's Throne with Confidence")). The separation initiated by Adam's sin ([Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Sin Entered the World Through One Man")) is reversed by Christ's obedience, offering reconciliation and restoration of the broken fellowship ([Romans 5:18-19](/romans/5-18-19 "Righteousness Through One Man")). In Christ, we are no longer naked and afraid, but clothed and welcomed into God's presence ([Galatians 3:27](/galatians/3-27 "Clothed with Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Isaiah 47:3

Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet [thee as] a man.

Psalms 119:120

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Isaiah 57:11

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

1 John 3:20

¶ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Job 23:15

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Exodus 3:6

Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.