Genesis 3:7 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.

Genesis 3:7 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.

Genesis 3:7 niv

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Genesis 3:7 esv

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis 3:7 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.

Genesis 3 verses

Genesis 3 7 Meaning

Immediately following their act of disobedience, the eyes of both Adam and Eve experienced a profound shift, causing them to truly perceive and know their state of nakedness in a way they had not before. This new knowledge was inextricably linked with shame and self-consciousness, a stark contrast to their former innocence. In response, they initiated their first human act of self-covering, stitching together fig leaves to fashion rudimentary coverings for themselves, attempting to conceal their perceived vulnerability and newfound disgrace. This verse marks the instant manifestation of the spiritual and psychological consequences of sin, initiating humanity's effort to mitigate the shame and guilt born from their rebellion against God.

Genesis 3 7 Context

Genesis 3:7 follows immediately after Adam and Eve's deliberate disobedience to God's singular command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17). Genesis 1-2 describes a pristine creation where humanity lived in unblemished innocence, characterized by open communion with God and a complete absence of shame (Gen 2:25). The serpent's temptation in Genesis 3:1-5 questioned God's benevolence and integrity, promising that eating the fruit would make them "like God, knowing good and evil." The act of eating the fruit (Gen 3:6) marked humanity's fall from this state of perfect innocence. Verse 7 details the immediate, internal, and external consequences of that act, leading directly into their subsequent attempt to hide from God (Gen 3:8-10) and God's confrontational dialogue and pronouncement of curses (Gen 3:11-19). Historically and culturally, nakedness in the ancient Near East often signified vulnerability, dishonor, and captivity, especially in conquered peoples or those judged by a deity.

Genesis 3 7 Word analysis

• And the eyes of them both were opened:

  • And: Hebrew waw (וְ) - a conjunction indicating sequence or consequence.
  • eyes: Hebrew ayin (עַיִן) - refers literally to the physical organs of sight, but often metaphorically to understanding, perception, or spiritual insight. Before the Fall, their eyes were open, yet they lacked the specific "knowledge of good and evil" promised by the serpent. The opening here signifies a new kind of perception, a detrimental one that brought self-awareness of guilt.
  • of them both: Refers specifically to Adam and Eve, emphasizing their joint involvement and shared experience of the immediate consequence.
  • were opened: Hebrew paqach (פָּקַח) - to open, unseal. It's not that they were physically blind before, but rather, their perception was "opened" to a reality they were previously ignorant of – specifically, the experience of sin, guilt, and shame. This opening brought distress, contrasting with any expectation of enlightenment. It implies an unwelcome revelation.

• and they knew that they were naked:

  • and they knew: Hebrew wa-yeda‘u (וַיֵּדְעוּ) from yada` (יָדַע) - to know experientially, not just intellectually. This knowing came through their direct experience of violating God's command. They gained knowledge of evil not merely as a concept, but through personal involvement.
  • that they were naked: Hebrew êrōm (עֵירֹם) - bare, exposed, vulnerable. This word for "naked" carries a connotation of shame and disgrace, differing from the descriptive ‘ărûmmîm (עֲרוּמִּים), used in Gen 2:25 ("naked and not ashamed"), which signified an innocent, unashamed state. The knowledge they acquired was primarily of their own sinfulness and its accompanying shame and vulnerability before God. This spiritual nakedness reveals their loss of divine covering or glory.

• and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons:

  • and they sewed: Hebrew wa-yitparu (וַיִּתְפְּרוּ) from taphar (תָּפַר) - to stitch, sew. This denotes an active, immediate, and manual effort by humanity to address their perceived problem. It represents human self-reliance in addressing spiritual issues.
  • fig leaves: Broad leaves, readily available in an Edenic setting. Symbolically, fig leaves represent inadequate human attempts at self-covering or self-redemption. They are fragile and temporary.
  • together: Reinforces the cooperative effort of Adam and Eve in their attempt to cover themselves, demonstrating a unified human response to the consequences of their sin.
  • and made themselves: Highlights their autonomous action, taking matters into their own hands rather than turning to God. This signifies self-righteousness.
  • aprons: Hebrew ḥagōrāh (חֲגֹרָה) - a belt, girdle, loincloth. A minimalist covering, emphasizing their desire to conceal what they felt most shameful – likely the seat of their passions and newly acquired sinfulness. This action is the first recorded instance of human religion and moral self-justification, a futile attempt to hide their spiritual state from themselves and God.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked": This phrase encapsulates the immediate internal and cognitive consequence of sin. It describes a shift from innocent nakedness (Gen 2:25) to a shameful, exposed nakedness, experienced not merely physically but existentially. This "opening of eyes" brought undesirable awareness, linking spiritual perception with an acute sense of personal failing and disgrace.
  • "and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons": This phrase details humanity's first outward action post-Fall. It represents a desperate, futile attempt at self-salvation and concealment through human effort. It foreshadows all subsequent human attempts to cover sin or establish righteousness apart from God's provision. It stands in direct contrast to God's later provision of skin coverings (Gen 3:21), highlighting the inadequacy of human works versus divine grace.

Genesis 3 7 Bonus section

The transformation from "naked and unashamed" (Gen 2:25) to "knew that they were naked" (Gen 3:7) fundamentally alters human relationships – with God, with themselves, and with one another. The loss of a perfect, uninhibited walk with God is evident in their subsequent hiding (Gen 3:8). Internally, shame introduces self-consciousness and a perpetual striving to manage appearances. In marriage, this new awareness subtly introduces tension and a barrier to absolute vulnerability, culminating in Adam blaming Eve in the following verses (Gen 3:12). This verse provides foundational insight into the psychological and social effects of the Fall, depicting shame as a core component of the fallen human experience and the driving force behind many self-protective behaviors, including attempts to "cover up" or maintain outward appearances. It underlines the concept of original sin and its pervasive influence on the human psyche.

Genesis 3 7 Commentary

Genesis 3:7 powerfully illustrates the immediate, tangible impact of sin on the human condition. The "opening of eyes" signifies not a positive enlightenment, but a shattering of innocence, leading to a new, distressing awareness of their nakedness. This nakedness transcends mere physical exposure; it points to a spiritual and moral vulnerability, a profound shame and guilt arising from their broken relationship with God and the internal corruption of their being. They had sought to be "like God, knowing good and evil," and indeed they "knew," but this knowledge was an experiential burden of fallenness.

Their instinctive reaction – sewing fig leaves – marks humanity's inaugural act of self-reliance and self-justification. It is an immediate attempt to hide, not just from God, but from their own awakened consciences. These handmade coverings are symbolically frail and insufficient, prefiguring the futility of all human efforts to achieve righteousness or to cover sin through self-devised means. This verse thus lays the foundation for a central biblical theme: the inherent human tendency to cover their own shame through their own works, which will ultimately be revealed as inadequate in contrast to God's gracious and perfect covering provided later (Gen 3:21) through sacrifice. It reveals the core problem of humanity: shame and the fruitless attempts to conceal it from God and others, setting the stage for the redemptive narrative of God's provision.