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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
- 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 2:25The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
- Isa 59:6Their webs won’t become garments. They won’t cover themselves with their works. Their works are works of iniquity, and acts of violence are in their hands.
- Gen 3:5for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- Job 9:29–31I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
- Isa 28:20For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.
- Gen 3:10–11The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
- 2 Kgs 6:20When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Yahweh, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria.
- Deut 28:34so that the sights that you see with your eyes will drive you mad.
- Luke 16:23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
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
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