Genesis 3:2

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And the woman {H802} said {H559} unto the serpent {H5175}, We may eat {H398} of the fruit {H6529} of the trees {H6086} of the garden {H1588}:

Complete Jewish Bible

The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat from the fruit of the trees of the garden,

Berean Standard Bible

The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden,

American Standard Version

And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 3:2 captures the pivotal moment where the woman, Eve, responds to the serpent's insidious question, confirming God's generous provision that permits consumption from the vast majority of the Garden's trees. While her statement appears factually accurate in acknowledging the abundance, it subtly prepares the ground for the serpent's subsequent manipulation by focusing the dialogue on the parameters of God's command, thereby setting the stage for the unfolding drama of humanity's temptation and fall.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the serpent's cunning and deceptively framed question in [Genesis 3:1](/genesis/3-1 "Genesis 3:1 - The Serpent's Question"), which subtly challenged the scope of God's command regarding the trees in the Garden. Eve's response here is the first direct verbal interaction between humanity and the tempter, serving as a crucial pivot point in the narrative. It sets the stage for the serpent to narrow its focus from the vastness of God's provision to the single prohibition, leading directly into Eve's subsequent, and ultimately fatal, misrepresentation and addition to God's word in [Genesis 3:3](/genesis/3-3 "Genesis 3:3 - Eve's Alteration of God's Word"). The dialogue unfolds with dramatic tension, revealing the serpent's strategic approach to temptation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the Garden of Eden narrative transcends specific historical or cultural periods as a primordial account, understanding its context involves grasping the ideal, unfallen state of creation. The "garden" itself ([Genesis 2:8](/genesis/2-8 "The Garden of Eden")) represents a place of perfect provision, intimate communion with God, and boundless freedom, where humanity was given dominion and sustenance. The presence of the "serpent" introduces an element of external evil or opposition, a creature described as "more subtle than any beast of the field" ([Genesis 3:1](/genesis/3-1 "The Serpent's Cunning")). This context emphasizes the purity and generosity of God's initial design, making the subsequent temptation and fall all the more tragic against a backdrop of divine benevolence.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 3:2 contributes to several overarching themes within the broader narrative of Genesis and the biblical canon. Foremost is the theme of **God's Abundant Provision**, initially established in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "The Creation Account") and reiterated in [Genesis 2:16](/genesis/2-16 "God's Generous Command"), where humanity is given vast liberty within the Garden. This verse also introduces the theme of the **Subtlety of Temptation**, demonstrating how evil often begins not with outright denial, but with questioning and a re-framing of truth, as seen in the serpent's initial query in [Genesis 3:1](/genesis/3-1 "The Serpent's Question"). Furthermore, it foreshadows the critical importance of **Accurately Handling God's Word**, as Eve's initial correct statement will soon be followed by a fatal distortion in [Genesis 3:3](/genesis/3-3 "Eve's Alteration of God's Word"), highlighting the fragility of human understanding when confronted by deception.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woman (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** From H802, this term refers to Eve, the first woman, created from Adam's rib ([Genesis 2:21-23](/genesis/2-21-23 "The Creation of Woman")). Her designation here emphasizes her role as humanity's representative in this pivotal encounter, making her response critical for all human history.
* **Serpent (Hebrew, _nâchâsh'_):** From H5175, this word describes the creature initiating the dialogue. Its root suggests 'hissing' or 'enchantment,' hinting at its deceptive nature. While initially presented as a 'beast of the field,' its cunning and ability to speak mark it as more than an ordinary animal, serving as the instrument of temptation and later revealed as a manifestation of evil ([Revelation 12:9](/revelation/12-9 "The Great Dragon, that Old Serpent")).
* **Eat (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** From H398, this primitive root signifies consumption, literally or figuratively. In this context, it refers to the act of partaking of the fruit. The repetition of the verb in the original Hebrew (an infinitive absolute followed by an imperfect verb, *ʼāḵōl nōʼḵēl*) emphasizes the certainty and permission: 'eating we are certainly permitted to eat,' underscoring God's generous provision before the prohibition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the woman said unto the serpent,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the direct dialogue between Eve and the tempter. It signifies the commencement of the critical exchange that will determine humanity's immediate future. The woman, as the first to be directly confronted by the serpent, takes on the role of responding to the initial challenge to God's word.
* **"We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:"**: Eve's statement here is factually accurate and affirms God's generous provision. The Hebrew construction, *ʼāḵōl nōʼḵēl* (אָכוֹל נֹאכֵל), literally "eating we may eat," is an emphatic idiom conveying full permission and certainty. It highlights her initial understanding that God had granted them abundant liberty to consume from virtually all the trees within the vast and bountiful Garden of Eden, setting the stage for the serpent to focus on the single exception.

#### Literary Devices
This verse employs several subtle **literary devices** that contribute to its dramatic impact. The primary device is **Dialogue**, which immediately draws the reader into the unfolding drama between Eve and the serpent. The serpent's cunning question in [Genesis 3:1](/genesis/3-1 "The Serpent's Question") and Eve's seemingly straightforward response in [Genesis 3:2](/genesis/3-2 "Eve's Initial Reply") establish a **Foreshadowing** of the impending conflict and fall; the reader, aware of God's command, senses the tension building. There is also an element of **Irony**, as Eve's accurate affirmation of God's generosity paradoxically provides the serpent with the precise opening it needs to introduce doubt and focus on the single prohibition. The use of the emphatic Hebrew idiom for "we may eat" (**Emphasis**) serves to highlight the initial vastness of God's permission, making the subsequent turn to disobedience all the more tragic.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 3:2, though brief, is rich in theological implications. It underscores the initial state of **humanity's blessedness and God's boundless generosity** in providing for all needs within the Garden. Eve's accurate affirmation of God's permission highlights the vast scope of divine provision before the introduction of sin. However, it also subtly introduces the theme of **human vulnerability to deception**, even when possessing accurate knowledge. The serpent's strategy of engaging in dialogue, rather than overt coercion, reveals the insidious nature of temptation, which often begins by questioning God's goodness or His word, shifting focus from abundance to perceived restriction. This foundational interaction sets the stage for understanding the origin of sin and the subsequent need for redemption.

* [Psalm 104:27-28](/psalm/104-27-28 "God's Provision for Creation")
* [2 Corinthians 11:3](/2_corinthians/11-3 "Satan's Deception")
* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Man Lives by God's Word")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This seemingly simple exchange in Genesis 3:2 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that temptation often begins not with a blatant lie, but with a subtle questioning of God's character or His commands. Eve's initial, accurate statement about God's generosity serves as a crucial reminder that we must always ground ourselves firmly in the truth of God's abundant provision and His good intentions for us. The enemy's strategy is to shift our focus from what God has generously given to what He has seemingly withheld, creating discontent and doubt. Therefore, vigilance is paramount. We are called to know God's Word intimately, not just generally, so that we can discern and resist the subtle distortions that seek to undermine our faith and lead us away from His perfect will. Our spiritual health depends on our ability to distinguish between truth and deceptive half-truths, always affirming God's goodness even when facing perceived limitations.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the serpent's approach in this verse mirror subtle temptations you face today?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be tempted to shift focus from God's abundant provision to perceived restrictions?**
* **How can a deeper understanding of God's character and His Word strengthen your resistance to deception?**

### FAQ
**Was Eve's statement in Genesis 3:2 completely accurate?**

Answer: Yes, Eve's statement in [Genesis 3:2](/genesis/3-2 "Eve's Initial Reply") is factually accurate regarding God's permission for humanity to "eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden." God had indeed granted them immense liberty, allowing them to freely eat from all but one specific tree ([Genesis 2:16-17](/genesis/2-16-17 "God's Command Regarding the Trees")). Her accuracy here underscores the initial vastness of God's provision and her awareness of it. However, this accurate statement serves as a setup for the serpent's next move, where Eve will begin to subtly misrepresent God's command in [Genesis 3:3](/genesis/3-3 "Eve's Alteration of God's Word"), demonstrating how temptation can begin with partial truths or seemingly innocuous conversations that gradually lead to disobedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Genesis 3:2, capturing Eve's initial, accurate affirmation of God's generous provision before the fall, profoundly highlights humanity's original state of blessedness and the subsequent vulnerability to subtle deception. This pivotal moment underscores the need for a perfect human response to God's word—a response that Eve, despite her initial accuracy, ultimately failed to sustain. In Christ, we find the **Second Adam** ([1 Corinthians 15:45](/1_corinthians/15-45 "The Second Adam")), who perfectly fulfills what the first Adam and Eve could not. Where Eve's dialogue with the serpent led to a distortion of truth and disobedience, Jesus, when confronted by temptation in the wilderness, responded with unwavering adherence to God's precise word ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Jesus' Temptation")). He did not add to or subtract from God's commands but lived a life of perfect obedience, culminating in His sacrificial death. The abundance and provision initially enjoyed in Eden, and affirmed by Eve, find their ultimate and eternal expression in Christ's work, through whom believers are granted access to the true "tree of life" ([Revelation 2:7](/revelation/2-7 "The Tree of Life")) and the fullness of God's grace ([John 1:16](/john/1-16 "Grace for Grace")).

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

Psalms 58:4

Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;