King James Version

What Does Genesis 3:18 Mean?

Genesis 3:18 in the King James Version says “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; bring: Heb. cause to bu...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; bring: Heb. cause to bud”

Genesis 3:18 · KJV

Context

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

17

And 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;

18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; bring: Heb. cause to bud

19

In 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.

20

And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Eve: Heb. Chavah: that is Living

Read Genesis 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;... 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 this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. What obstacles prevent us from living out the truths presented in this verse?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
וְק֥וֹץ1 of 8

“Thorns also”

H6975

a thorn

וְדַרְדַּ֖ר2 of 8

“and thistles”

H1863

a thorn

תַּצְמִ֣יחַֽ3 of 8

“shall it bring forth”

H6779

to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)

לָ֑ךְ4 of 8
H0
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖5 of 8

“to thee and thou shalt eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

אֶת6 of 8
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עֵ֥שֶׂב7 of 8

“the herb”

H6212

grass (or any tender shoot)

הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃8 of 8

“of the field”

H7704

a field (as flat)

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 3:18 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 3:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 13:7Job 5:5Isaiah 7:23Job 31:40Psalms 104:14-15Proverbs 22:5

Test Your Knowledge

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