Genesis 3:1

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?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye 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

    But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:14

    And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 20:2

    And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

    Read in context
  • Matthew 4:3

    And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 3:13–15

    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.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 4:6

    And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

    Read in context