Genesis 3:8 kjv

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8 nkjv

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8 niv

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8 esv

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8 nlt

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

Genesis 3 verses

Genesis 3 8 Meaning

Genesis 3:8 reveals the immediate and profound impact of Adam and Eve's disobedience. After eating from the forbidden tree, they hear the discernible manifestation of the Lord God's presence, indicating His customary visit. Their response is no longer one of joyful communion, but of fear and an attempt to hide from His direct gaze. This verse marks the beginning of humanity's broken fellowship with God due to sin, leading to separation and shame, yet it simultaneously highlights God's continued, proactive approach towards His creation even in their fallen state.

Genesis 3 8 Context

Genesis 3:8 follows the pivotal event of the Fall, where Adam and Eve defied God's command regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16-17; Gen 3:6). Prior to this, their relationship with the Lord God was one of unhindered intimacy and open fellowship in the Garden of Eden. God would reportedly "walk" in the garden, a vivid anthropomorphic description suggesting regular, personal communion. This verse marks a radical shift. The "sound" of God, once perhaps a comforting signal of His presence, now evokes immediate terror. Their nakedness, which previously caused no shame, now exposes their vulnerability and guilt, leading them to hide. The established routine of peaceful interaction is shattered by disobedience, introducing fear, guilt, and a desperate attempt at concealment—the first signs of the deep separation sin causes between humanity and their Creator.

Genesis 3 8 Word analysis

• And they heard (וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, wayyišm‘û): This indicates an immediate, active sensory perception of God's presence, not just an abstract awareness. It implies that God's approach was discernible and perhaps even a familiar pattern, emphasizing the routine of their prior communion.

• the sound (קֹול, qōl): Can mean "voice," "sound," or "thunder." Here, it points to an audible manifestation of God. This isn't just a mental knowing; it's a physical perception—perhaps the rustling of trees accompanying His presence, the sound of footsteps, or the sound of His approaching voice, which now, after sin, provokes fear.

• of the Lord God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, YHWH ʾĔlōhîm): The combination of the covenantal name (YHWH, representing God's personal, relational, and covenant-keeping nature) and the generic name for God (ʾĔlōhîm, highlighting His majestic and supreme power). This specific designation reminds the reader of their covenantal relationship with the powerful Creator whom they have just defied.

• walking (מִתְהַלֵּךְ, mithallēḵ): A Hithpael participle of הָלַךְ (halakh), denoting continuous, reflexive, or habitual movement. It describes God literally "walking to and fro" or "strolling." This anthropomorphism powerfully conveys God's intimate, personal, and approachable nature, and His regular communion with Adam and Eve before the Fall. It underscores that God was deeply immanent and engaged with His creation.

• in the garden: The divinely prepared dwelling place, designed for perfect harmony and direct fellowship between God and humanity. It represents a sacred space where divine presence was expected and welcomed.

• in the cool of the day (לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם, lərûaḥ hayyôm): Literally "at the wind/spirit of the day" or "at the breezy time of the day," commonly understood as the evening breeze or late afternoon. This time signifies a regular, probably daily, period for quiet and communion, making God's appearance a routine interaction rather than an unexpected event. It highlights the tranquil, intimate environment now disturbed by sin.

• and Adam and his wife: Explicitly names both human agents of the Fall, indicating their shared experience of hearing God's approach and their joint decision to hide.

• hid themselves (וַיִּתְחַבְּאוּ, wayyitḥabbəʾū): Hithpael imperfect, indicating a reflexive action, meaning "they caused themselves to hide" or "they began to hide." This active choice of concealment directly stems from their newfound shame, guilt, and fear after their sin. It reveals their desire to avoid accountability and their broken communion.

• from the presence (מִפְּנֵי, mippənê): Literally "from the face of." This denotes seeking to avoid direct personal encounter or sight of God. Their hiding was not just physical, but an attempt to escape the direct confrontation with God's glorious and righteous nature.

• of the Lord God: Reiteration of the divine names emphasizes that it is precisely their intimate, covenant God whom they now perceive as a threat and from whom they seek to flee.

• among the trees of the garden: The same trees that provided beauty and sustenance for them now become a futile covering for their sin and shame, illustrating how their sin corrupts their perception of creation and their relationship with it.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden": This phrase dramatically sets the scene. The hearing suggests an expectation, or perhaps a sudden, alarming realization of God's approaching presence. The walking indicates God's immanence and personal engagement, which before the Fall signified comforting intimacy but now incites dread because of guilt.
  • "in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves": The previously tranquil "cool of the day," a likely time of customary fellowship, suddenly becomes the moment of profound separation. Their active attempt to hide themselves highlights their immediate response of fear and shame, which is a direct consequence of their disobedience and their newly acquired self-awareness of their sin and nakedness.
  • "from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden": This complete phrase powerfully conveys the broken relationship. They hide from "the face of" God, demonstrating their attempt to escape direct confrontation with the one they have offended. The choice of trees within the blessed garden as a hiding place underscores the futility and irony of their attempt to conceal themselves from an omnipresent God within His own created sanctuary.

Genesis 3 8 Bonus section

• The anthropomorphic language of God "walking" in the garden speaks profoundly against any ancient Near Eastern notions of distant, impersonal, or immobile deities. It presents Yahweh as intimately involved and approachable.
• The act of hiding highlights humanity's vain attempt to escape divine knowledge (compare Psa 139), immediately exposing the foolishness and futility of trying to conceal anything from the Creator.
• This verse not only chronicles humanity's initial spiritual alienation but also foundational theological truths: God's holiness requires a response to sin, God's love initiates seeking the lost, and sin causes an innate desire within humanity to self-conceal rather than confess.
• The "cool of the day" signifies a specific, habitual time for God's visitation, implying a pre-established rhythm of divine-human interaction that was abruptly disrupted by the Fall.

Genesis 3 8 Commentary

Genesis 3:8 portrays the immediate spiritual fallout of sin. Before the Fall, the "cool of the day" likely represented a routine time of intimate fellowship between God and humanity, a period of shared presence where God "walked" with His creation. This anthropomorphic description underscores God's personal, accessible nature. However, after their transgression, this very sound—this intimate presence—no longer brings comfort but instead ignites fear and drives Adam and Eve into desperate concealment.

This hiding reflects the inherent consequence of sin: separation from God. Guilt and shame immediately follow disobedience, breaking the perfect communion that once existed. Humanity's first impulse after sin is to flee from God, symbolizing our natural aversion to accountability and light when our deeds are dark. The irony is poignant: they attempt to hide from the Omnipresent God within His own garden. Yet, even in this moment of rebellion and fear, the verse also subtly initiates the overarching biblical theme of God's relentless pursuit of fallen humanity, setting the stage for the redemptive narrative.