Genesis 3:11

KJV

¶ And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, Who {H4310} told {H5046} thee that thou wast naked {H5903}? Hast thou eaten {H398} of the tree {H6086}, whereof I commanded thee {H6680} that thou shouldest not {H1115} eat {H398}?

Complete Jewish Bible

He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?”

Berean Standard Bible

“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

American Standard Version

And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 3:11 captures the Lord God's direct and piercing interrogation of Adam following humanity's first sin. It reveals the immediate consequence of disobedience—shame and a broken relationship—as God's questions expose the depth of their fall and the origin of their newfound self-awareness, setting the stage for divine judgment and subsequent grace.

### CONTEXT
This verse marks the beginning of God's direct confrontation with Adam and Eve after their disobedience in eating from the forbidden tree. Immediately prior, [Adam and Eve had hidden themselves from God's presence](/genesis/3-8 "Read about Adam and Eve hiding in Genesis 3:8") in the garden, having realized their nakedness and attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves. God's call, "[Where art thou?](/genesis/3-9 "God's question to Adam in Genesis 3:9")" sets the stage for this probing inquiry, leading directly to Adam's defensive reply and God's pointed questions here.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
The Lord God's question, "**Who told thee that thou wast naked?**" is not born of ignorance, but of divine pedagogy. God, being omniscient, knew precisely what had transpired. His inquiry serves to draw Adam out of hiding, to confront him with the reality of his sin, and to lead him toward confession. The question implies that Adam's awareness of his nakedness—a state previously enjoyed in innocent freedom (cf. [Genesis 2:25 where they were naked and unashamed](/genesis/2-25 "Genesis 2:25 describes their initial state of innocence"))—was not an external revelation from another being, but an internal consequence of his own action. This shame, a profound spiritual and psychological shift, was the immediate fruit of their disobedience.

The Hebrew word for "naked" (*'eyrom*) here signifies more than mere physical unclothedness; it speaks to a profound vulnerability, exposure, and loss of innocence. Their nakedness became a symbol of their broken communion with God and with each other. This new awareness was a direct result of their rebellion, a shattering of the original harmony and the introduction of self-consciousness marred by guilt.

God's follow-up question, "**Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?**" cuts to the heart of the matter. It directly references the specific command given in [Genesis 2:17, warning of death if they ate from the tree](/genesis/2-17 "God's command and warning in Genesis 2:17"). This direct recall underscores the clarity of God's instruction and the deliberate nature of their transgression. It highlights the covenantal nature of their relationship—God had established a boundary, and they had crossed it, bringing immediate and profound consequences. This divine interrogation initiates the process of accountability, setting the stage for the judgment and subsequent grace that will unfold in the following verses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* The immediate consequences of sin: shame, guilt, and broken fellowship.
* God's omniscience and His redemptive questioning, seeking confession rather than information.
* The inviolability of God's commands and the gravity of disobedience.
* The theme of spiritual nakedness and the need for divine covering, echoing through the narrative of [God clothing Adam and Eve in skins](/genesis/3-21 "God's provision of clothing in Genesis 3:21").
* The tragic loss of original innocence and the introduction of a fallen human condition, which necessitates a future plan of redemption.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 3:11 reminds us that sin's immediate effect is often a profound internal shift, manifesting as shame and a distorted self-perception, even before external consequences are fully realized. It challenges us to recognize that God, in His perfect knowledge, confronts our hidden sins not to condemn without hope, but to draw us into honest confession and a recognition of our true state before Him. This passage calls us to examine the "nakedness" of our own hearts, acknowledging where we have disobeyed, and to seek the covering that only God can provide.

### FAQ
**Why does God ask questions if He already knows the answer?**

Answer: God's questions are not for His information, but for humanity's instruction and conviction. They are designed to draw out confession, to lead Adam and Eve to acknowledge their sin, and to reveal the state of their hearts, much like a loving parent might question a child to help them understand their wrongdoing.

**What is the significance of "nakedness" in this context?**

Answer: Beyond physical unclothedness, their nakedness symbolizes a loss of innocence, a shattered communion, and a newfound vulnerability and shame before God and each other. It represents the immediate spiritual and psychological consequence of their disobedience, a state they were previously unburdened by, as seen in [Genesis 2:25](/genesis/2-25 "Genesis 2:25 describes their initial state of innocence").

**How does this verse relate to the concept of guilt?**

Answer: The awareness of nakedness and the attempt to hide are direct manifestations of guilt. Adam and Eve's actions betray their internal conviction of having violated a divine command, leading to fear and an attempt to evade accountability. This is the initial stage of the human experience of guilt before a holy God.

**What does "the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat" emphasize?**

Answer: This phrase emphasizes the clarity and specificity of God's command. It underscores that their sin was not accidental or due to ignorance, but a deliberate act of disobedience against a known divine prohibition, highlighting the gravity of their rebellion against their Creator's will.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
This verse, revealing humanity's immediate shame and spiritual nakedness after the fall, profoundly expresses the need for a divine covering and a Mediator. While Adam attempts to hide and cover himself with fig leaves, this inadequacy foreshadows the ultimate inadequacy of human effort to atone for sin or to cover one's shame before a holy God. Christ, the [second Adam](/1_corinthians/15-45 "Read about Christ as the second Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45"), fully covers our spiritual nakedness through His righteousness imputed to us (cf. [Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Paul's desire for Christ's righteousness in Philippians 3:9")). His sacrifice on the cross provides the true and lasting covering, transforming our shame into glory and restoring our fellowship with God, fulfilling the need for a sinless substitute first hinted at by God's provision of animal skins in [Genesis 3:21](/genesis/3-21 "God provides clothing for Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:21").

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

Romans 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

Genesis 4:10

And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Psalms 50:21

These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.