King James Version

What Does Genesis 3:14 Mean?

Genesis 3:14 in the King James Version says “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every b...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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:”

Genesis 3:14 · KJV

Context

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.

16

Unto 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

Read Genesis 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattl... 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).

KJV Study — Public Domain

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. What theological truths about The Fall emerge from this passage?
  2. What obstacles prevent us from living out the truths presented in this verse?
  3. How does this passage point forward to Christ and the gospel of redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַיֹּאמֶר֩1 of 23

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָֹ֨ה2 of 23

“And the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהִ֥ים׀3 of 23

“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

אֶֽל4 of 23
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַנָּחָשׁ֮5 of 23

“unto the serpent”

H5175

a snake (from its hiss)

כִּ֣י6 of 23
H3588

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

עָשִׂ֣יתָ7 of 23

“hast done”

H6213

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

זֹּאת֒8 of 23
H2063

this (often used adverb)

אָר֤וּר9 of 23

“this thou art cursed”

H779

to execrate

אַתָּה֙10 of 23

“Because thou”

H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

מִכָּל11 of 23
H3605

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

הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה12 of 23

“above all cattle”

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

וּמִכֹּ֖ל13 of 23
H3605

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

חַיֶּֽיךָ׃14 of 23

“and above every beast”

H2416

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

הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה15 of 23

“of the field”

H7704

a field (as flat)

עַל16 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

גְּחֹנְךָ֣17 of 23

“upon thy belly”

H1512

the external abdomen, belly (as the source of the faetus)

תֵלֵ֔ךְ18 of 23
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וְעָפָ֥ר19 of 23

“and dust”

H6083

dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud

תֹּאכַ֖ל20 of 23

“shalt thou eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

כָּל21 of 23
H3605

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

יְמֵ֥י22 of 23

“all the days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

חַיֶּֽיךָ׃23 of 23

“and above every beast”

H2416

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

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 3:14 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 3:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Micah 7:17Isaiah 65:25Psalms 72:9Isaiah 29:4Leviticus 20:25Deuteronomy 28:15-20

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 3 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Genesis 3 with CommentaryAll Genesis ChaptersComplete Genesis QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes