King James Version

What Does Genesis 3:13 Mean?

Genesis 3:13 in the King James Version says “And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And 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.”

Genesis 3:13 · KJV

Context

11

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?

12

And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13

And 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.

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:

15

And 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.

Read Genesis 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serp... This chapter narrates humanity's tragic fall from innocence through temptation, sin, and divine judgment. The serpent's subtle questioning of God's word, Eve's addition to and misquotation of God's command, and Adam's passive participation demonstrate the progression from doubt to disobedience to disaster.

The consequences affect every dimension of human existence: spiritual death (separation from God), physical death (mortality), relational dysfunction (shame, blame, conflict), vocational difficulty (cursed ground, painful labor), and cosmic disruption (groaning creation). Yet within the curses, God provides gracious provisions: proto-evangelium promise of redemption, clothing to cover shame, and preservation of life despite deserved death.

Theologically, this chapter establishes the origin and nature of sin, the reality of Satan's activity, the universality of human fallenness, the justice of divine judgment, and the necessity of redemption. Understanding the fall illuminates why the world contains suffering and evil, why humans rebel against God, why salvation requires divine intervention, and how Christ as the second Adam reverses the first Adam's failure (Romans 5:12-21, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The serpent in Genesis 3 reflects ancient Near Eastern associations between serpents and chaos, evil, or deceptive wisdom. Unlike pagan myths where serpents might be deified, Genesis presents the serpent as a mere creature, though Satan's instrument (Revelation 12:9, 20:2). Ancient curse formulas from various cultures parallel God's pronouncements, but Genesis uniquely embeds redemptive promise within judgment.

The agricultural curses (thorns, sweat, difficult labor) would have resonated deeply with ancient subsistence farmers for whom crop failure meant starvation. The pain in childbearing acknowledges a universal female experience that ancient cultures attributed to various causes, but Genesis traces it to sin's consequences rather than divine cruelty or inherent evil in creation or sexuality.

Archaeological evidence of humanity's ancient struggles with agriculture, disease, death, and violence aligns with Genesis's portrayal of a fallen world. Ancient wisdom literature from Mesopotamia and Egypt grappled with suffering's origins, but Genesis alone provides the theological explanation: human rebellion against God brought cosmic corruption. This account would have answered Israelite questions about why their promised land required hard labor, why they suffered pain and death, and why they needed redemption.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. What specific changes in thinking or behavior does this verse call us to make?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙1 of 12

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֧ה2 of 12

“And the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהִ֛ים3 of 12

“God”

H430

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

הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה4 of 12

“And the woman”

H802

a woman

מַה5 of 12
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

זֹּ֣את6 of 12
H2063

this (often used adverb)

עָשִׂ֑ית7 of 12

“What is this that thou hast done”

H6213

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

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙8 of 12

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה9 of 12

“And the woman”

H802

a woman

הַנָּחָ֥שׁ10 of 12

“The serpent”

H5175

a snake (from its hiss)

הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי11 of 12

“beguiled me”

H5377

to lead astray, i.e., (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce

וָאֹכֵֽל׃12 of 12

“and I did eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 3:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 3:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Corinthians 11:31 Timothy 2:14John 18:35Genesis 4:10-12Genesis 3:4-62 Samuel 12:9-12

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