Genesis 2:25 kjv

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25 nkjv

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25 niv

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:25 esv

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25 nlt

Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 25 Meaning

Genesis 2:25 describes the pristine state of innocence, transparency, and perfect harmony between the man and his wife, Adam and Eve, prior to the Fall. Their nakedness signifies not only physical uncoveredness but a complete lack of shame, guilt, fear, or self-consciousness stemming from sin. They stood fully revealed to one another and implicitly before God, in a state of untarnished purity, trust, and intimate relationship, completely free from the negative connotations that would later become associated with nakedness due to sin.

Genesis 2 25 Context

Genesis 2:25 serves as the concluding statement for the second creation account in Genesis and acts as a pivotal bridge to the tragic events of Genesis chapter 3. Coming directly after the creation of Eve and the declaration of marriage as a "one flesh" union (Gen 2:24), it underscores the profound relational intimacy and purity established by God in Eden. It sets the baseline of perfect human innocence, untainted by sin, where physical nakedness did not incur mental or emotional shame. Historically, in the ancient Near East, nudity could sometimes be associated with ritual prostitution in pagan fertility cults or as a symbol of degradation in judgment. However, the Genesis account radically redefines nudity in the unfallen state as an emblem of uncorrupted purity, transparency, and trust, establishing a clear polemic against the distorted perceptions of human sexuality prevalent in contemporary idol worship, asserting instead God's design for humanity's harmonious existence.

Genesis 2 25 Word analysis

• And they were both naked:

  • Hebrew: וַיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עֲרוּמִּים (vayyiheyu sh'nēyhem ‘arumim)
  • וַיִּהְיוּ (vayyiheyu): "And they were". A typical consecutive imperfect verb, indicating a continuation of the narrative, implying this state existed after God brought the woman to the man and their union was established. It describes a sustained state.
  • שְׁנֵיהֶם (sh'nēyhem): "both of them". Emphasizes the equal and reciprocal nature of their condition. It's not just one, but a shared experience, highlighting their perfect unity and symmetry.
  • עֲרוּמִּים (‘arumim): "naked". This is the plural form of the adjective ‘arom. It denotes a state of being unclothed, uncovered. Crucially, in this verse, it carries no negative connotation of vulnerability, shame, or exposure. It signifies physical uncoveredness that corresponds with a lack of internal deceit, pretense, or hidden sin. The choice of this word in its positive sense in Genesis 2:25 and then its subtle, near-homophone ‘arum (crafty/shrewd) used for the serpent in Gen 3:1, highlights the sharp contrast between unblemished human innocence and insidious temptation.
    • Significance: This "nakedness" points to complete honesty and openness in their relationship with each other and implicitly with God. They had nothing to hide, because they had done no wrong and had no internal corruption.

• the man and his wife:

  • Hebrew: הָאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ (hā’ādhām v'’ishtō)
  • הָאָדָם (hā’ādhām): "the man", often signifying humanity in general, but here specifically Adam.
  • וְאִשְׁתּוֹ (v'’ishtō): "and his wife". Reinforces the established relationship (after Gen 2:23-24), indicating their new marital status.
    • Significance: The specified relationship – "man and wife" – contextualizes the nakedness as part of a marital, divinely ordained relationship, reinforcing purity rather than illicit or shameful behavior.

• and were not ashamed:

  • Hebrew: וְלֹא יִתְבֹּשָׁשׁוּ (v'lō yitbōshāshū)
  • וְלֹא (v'lō): "and not". A strong negative particle, explicitly denying the state that would soon come to define human experience.
  • יִתְבֹּשָׁשׁוּ (yitbōshāshū): "they were ashamed" or "they felt shame". This is the Hitpa'el (reflexive-reciprocal) stem of the root בוש (bōsh), which means "to be ashamed," "to feel disgraced," "to blush." The Hitpa'el form often denotes a state that is brought upon oneself, or a reciprocal action. Here, it conveys an absence of the subjective feeling of shame or self-consciousness. They felt no need to cover themselves, no fear of judgment, and no internal conflict regarding their state.
    • Significance: This phrase is the theological lynchpin of the verse. The absence of shame implies total innocence, purity of mind and heart, unmarred by guilt, impropriety, or consciousness of sin. It describes a relationship utterly devoid of pretense, vulnerability exploitation, or judgmentalism. This pre-Fall state of shame-free existence defines paradisiacal purity and harmony, a stark contrast to the human condition post-Fall (Gen 3:7, 10).

Genesis 2 25 Bonus section

The perfection described in Genesis 2:25, particularly the absence of shame, represents humanity's complete and joyous fulfillment of God's design before the entry of sin. This also reflects a foundational concept often referred to as the "Covenant of Works" or "Covenant of Life" by systematic theologians; in this framework, humanity's continued blessing and life were contingent upon perfect obedience. The state of "not ashamed" encapsulates the purity required to live perfectly within this covenant. The theological implication extends to humanity's original uprightness, a vital concept for understanding the full depravity of sin and the magnitude of Christ's redemptive work, which provides a covering (His righteousness) that metaphorically allows believers to stand "naked and unashamed" before God once more (Rom 3:21-24; Gal 3:27; Rev 3:18). This original state of perfect trust and transparency further informs the concept of the beatific vision, the future state where the redeemed will see God face to face without shame or fear (1 Jn 3:2).

Genesis 2 25 Commentary

Genesis 2:25 concisely articulates the apex of the original human condition: one of perfect innocence and complete transparency before God and each other. Their physical nakedness was merely an external reflection of an internal reality – an absence of sin, guilt, or shame. This "naked and unashamed" state reveals an intimate relationship characterized by total trust and freedom, where no pretense or hiding was necessary. They experienced full spiritual, emotional, and physical vulnerability without fear of judgment or rejection. This profound statement serves as the definitive pre-Fall benchmark for humanity, against which the subsequent entry of sin and its immediate consequence—shame (Gen 3:7-10)—is powerfully measured. It establishes God's original intention for human relationships: pure, open, and free from the divisive and isolating power of sin. The fall would instantly dismantle this, transforming a state of purity into one of painful self-consciousness and a need for covering. This verse, therefore, implicitly sets the stage for the biblical narrative of redemption, which seeks to restore humanity's fellowship with God and with one another, removing the garments of shame and clothing them in the righteousness of Christ.