Genesis 3:14

¶ And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

And the LORD {H3068} God {H430} said {H559} unto the serpent {H5175}, Because thou {H859} hast done {H6213} this, thou art cursed {H779} above all cattle {H929}, and above every beast {H2416} of the field {H7704}; upon thy belly {H1512} shalt thou go {H3212}, and dust {H6083} shalt thou eat {H398} all the days {H3117} of thy life {H2416}:

Adonai, God, said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live.

So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life.

And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Commentary

Context of Genesis 3:14

Genesis 3:14 marks the beginning of God's direct judgment following the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. After confronting the man and the woman about their sin, the LORD God turns His attention to the serpent, the instigator of the rebellion. This verse is the first pronouncement of a curse, setting the stage for the subsequent judgments on the woman and the man, and importantly, leading into the foundational prophecy of Genesis 3:15, often called the "protoevangelium" or "first gospel."

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: This verse demonstrates God's immediate and unwavering response to sin. His holiness demands that rebellion against His commands cannot go unpunished. The curse on the serpent is a clear display of divine justice.
  • Consequences of Deception and Rebellion: The serpent, identified later in Scripture as Satan or the Devil, suffers a profound physical and symbolic degradation. Its action of tempting humanity brings about its own humbling.
  • Humiliation and Lowliness: The pronouncements "upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat" signify a drastic fall from whatever form the serpent previously possessed. This curse establishes a permanent state of lowliness and disgrace for the creature that facilitated humanity's downfall.

Linguistic Insights

The word "cursed" (Hebrew: 'arur) is a powerful declaration of divine disapproval, bringing with it severe consequences and separation from blessing. It is a pronouncement of judgment, not merely an expression of anger. The phrase "upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat" is highly symbolic. While it describes a literal change in the serpent's physical form, it also profoundly represents humiliation, defeat, and a perpetual association with the lowest state of existence. Eating dust signifies utter degradation and defeat, perhaps even a constant reminder of its original connection to the ground from which man was formed and to which he would return.

Practical Application

Genesis 3:14 offers several enduring lessons:

  • The Certainty of Consequences: Sin, particularly that which leads others astray, will always face God's just judgment. There are inescapable consequences for rebellion against divine authority.
  • Warning Against Deception: The degradation of the serpent serves as a stark warning against the deceptive tactics of evil. Those who promote falsehood and lead others into sin will ultimately face humiliation and defeat.
  • God's Sovereignty in Judgment: Even in the midst of humanity's failure, God remains sovereign. He is in control and actively administers justice, setting in motion the unfolding plan of redemption that begins to be hinted at in the very next verse. This verse reminds us that God's justice is a foundational aspect of His character.
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Cross-References

  • Micah 7:17 (17 votes)

    They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

  • Isaiah 65:25 (14 votes)

    The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

  • Psalms 72:9 (10 votes)

    They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

  • Isaiah 29:4 (7 votes)

    And thou shalt be brought down, [and] shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

  • Genesis 9:6 (4 votes)

    Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • Leviticus 20:25 (4 votes)

    Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.

  • Deuteronomy 28:15 (4 votes)

    ¶ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: