And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.
Parallel translations
- WEB Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves.
- KJV And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
- NKJV Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
- NASB Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.
- NLT At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Their eyes are opened to their nakedness, and they cover themselves. Sin brings shame and a futile attempt to hide it.
Overview
After eating, the couple's eyes are opened, but instead of the promised godlikeness they discover shame and sew fig leaves to cover themselves. Their first response to sin is guilt and an inadequate effort to fix the problem on their own. These self-made coverings foreshadow humanity's need for the covering God alone can provide, ultimately fulfilled in the righteousness given through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gen 2:25And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
- Isa 59:6Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands.
- Gen 3:5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- Job 9:29–31Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
- Isa 28:20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too small to wrap around you.
- Gen 3:10–11“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
- 2 Kgs 6:20When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes, and they looked around and discovered that they were in Samaria.
- Deut 28:34You will be driven mad by the sights you see.
- Luke 16:23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 3:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.