Genesis 3

Genesis 3 tells of the fall — the serpent's temptation, Adam and Eve's disobedience, and the entry of sin and death into the world. It also holds the first promise of redemption (3:15), often called the protevangelium, that the seed of the woman will crush the serpent.

The Book of Genesis · Old Testament · chapter 3 of 50.

Where this chapter sits

Eden's single prohibition, set beside abundance on every side in chapter two, gets tested directly in this scene, where dialogue rather than narration drives events: the serpent questions, the woman answers, the man complies without protest, and God interrogates each of them before pronouncing consequences that ripple forward into Cain's violence and eventually the flood.

Key verses (KJV)

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head.” — Genesis 3:15 (KJV)

What to notice as you read

Follow the string of questions God asks after the act: where art thou, who told thee, what hast thou done, each one drawing out the truth rather than announcing it. Notice too how quickly hiding and shame replace the unguarded nakedness described just one chapter earlier.

Read Genesis 3 on your iPhone

Read the full text of Genesis 3 in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.

More popular chapters in Genesis

• Genesis 1

Other chapters worth reading

• Exodus 20
• Joshua 1
• Ruth 1
• 1 Samuel 16

Explore more

• Full overview of Genesis
• Read the whole Bible offline
• Today's verse of the day

Frequently asked questions

Where does Genesis 3 come in Genesis?

It is chapter 3 of 50 in Genesis, a book of Law in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Genesis are linked further down this page.

Where can I read Genesis 3?

Read the full text of Genesis 3 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.