What Does Genesis 3:1 Mean?

“Now the serpent”

a snake (from its hiss)

“was”

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

“more subtil”

cunning (usually in a bad sense)

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

“than any beast”

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

“of the field”

a field (as flat)

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

“had made”

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

“which the LORD”

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

“God”

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

“And he said”

to say (used with great latitude)

near, with or among; often in general, to

“unto the woman”

a woman

“Yea”

meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

“And he said”

to say (used with great latitude)

“God”

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“Ye shall not eat”

to eat (literally or figuratively)

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

“of every tree”

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

“of the garden”

a garden (as fenced)