Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

2 The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden,

3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
KJV
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
WEB
Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?”
ASV
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?
DARBY
And the serpent was more crafty than any animal of the field which Jehovah Elohim had made. And it said to the woman, Is it even so, that God has said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
BLB
And the serpent was cunning above every beast of the field that YHWH God had made. And he said to the woman, “[Is it] true that God has said, ‘You⁺ shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’”
ÅB
Men slangen var listigere enn alle dyr på marken som Gud Herren hadde gjort, og den sa til kvinnen: Har Gud virkelig sagt: Dere skal ikke spise av noe tre i haven?
OTB
Nå var slangen mer listig enn noen av de ville dyrene som Herren Gud hadde laget. Han sa til kvinnen: «Har Gud virkelig sagt: ‘Dere skal ikke spise av noe tre i hagen’?»
B1930
Men slangen var listigere enn alle dyr på marken som Gud Herren hadde gjort, og den sa til kvinnen: Har Gud virkelig sagt: I skal ikke ete av noget tre i haven?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Corinthians 11:3

    I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:14

    And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 20:2

    He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 4:3

    The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 3:13–15

    Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 4:6

    “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

    Read in context