The Fall of Man
The serpent tempts Eve, she and Adam eat the forbidden fruit, and sin enters the world bringing death and separation from God.
Genesis 3:1-24
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The Story
The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field. He approached Eve with a question designed to plant doubt: 'Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?'
Eve corrected him: 'We may eat fruit from the trees, but God said we must not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden or even touch it, or we will die.'
'You will not surely die,' the serpent hissed. 'God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'
Eve looked at the fruit. It was beautiful. It looked delicious. And the serpent said it would make her wise. She took some and ate it. She gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.
Immediately their eyes were opened—but not as they expected. They realized they were naked and felt shame for the first time. They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
When they heard God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid. 'Where are you?' God called.
Adam answered, 'I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.'
'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?'
Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. God pronounced judgment on all three—the serpent would crawl on its belly, the woman would have pain in childbirth, and the man would toil against thorns and thistles until he returned to dust.
But in the midst of judgment came hope. God told the serpent that the woman's offspring would crush his head. God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins—the first death, foreshadowing the sacrifice that would one day fully cover sin.
Then God sent them out of Eden, placing cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life. Paradise was lost, but a promise was given.
Adam and Eve Disobey
Kids Version
One day, a sneaky snake came to Eve. He was actually the devil in disguise!
'Did God really say you can't eat ANY fruit?' the snake asked.
'We can eat any fruit except from that one tree,' Eve said. 'If we eat it, we'll die.'
'No you won't!' the snake lied. 'You'll become wise like God!'
Eve looked at the fruit. It looked so yummy. She wanted to be wise. So she picked some and took a bite. She gave some to Adam, and he ate it too.
Oh no! Right away they felt different. They felt bad inside. They knew they had done something wrong. They tried to hide from God.
'Adam, Eve, where are you?' God called.
They came out, feeling ashamed. 'We ate the fruit,' they admitted.
God was sad. Now there would be sadness and hard work and sickness in the world. Adam and Eve had to leave the beautiful garden.
But even though God was sad, He still loved them! He made them warm clothes. And He made a special promise: someday, someone from Eve's family would defeat the sneaky snake forever.
That someone was Jesus!
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Scripture — Genesis 3:1-24 (KJV)
1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Yea: Heb. Yea, because, etc.
2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. pleasant: Heb. a desire
7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. aprons: or, things to gird about
8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. cool: Heb. wind
9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14And 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:
15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. to thy: or, subject to thy husband
17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; bring: Heb. cause to bud
19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Eve: Heb. Chavah: that is Living
21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Memory Verse
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Yea: Heb. Yea, because, etc.”
— Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Fall of Man” in the Bible?
The serpent tempts Eve, she and Adam eat the forbidden fruit, and sin enters the world bringing death and separation from God. This story is found in Genesis 3:1-24.
Where is “The Fall of Man” found in the Bible?
“The Fall of Man” is found in Genesis 3:1-24, in the book of Genesis.
What can children learn from “The Fall of Man”?
This story teaches children about Temptation, Sin, Consequences, Promise of redemption. A sneaky snake tricked Eve into eating fruit God said not to eat. Adam ate it too. They had to leave the garden, but God still loved them and promised to send a Savior.