The Context of Genesis 3:5–6

Genesis 3:5–6 (UASV) records the words of the serpent to Eve: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The passage continues: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desirable to make one wise, and she took of its fruit and ate, then she also gave some to her husband when with her, and he ate.”

This interaction occurs in the Garden of Eden between the woman (Eve) and the serpent, who is later identified as Satan (Revelation 12:9). The serpent’s deception centers on a promise of elevated status—“you will be like God”—and a manipulation of the prohibition regarding the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Was the Original Sin Sexual?

Historically, several theologians, particularly from the second to fifth centuries C.E., proposed that the sin involved sexual activity. This interpretation was based partly on Genesis 3:7—“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked”—and a belief that sexual awareness was inherently sinful.

However, this interpretation contradicts the biblical text on several critical points:

First, God commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28). This command presupposes and endorses sexual relations within marriage. To then suggest that sexual activity was the prohibited act contradicts the Creator’s express directive.

Second, the prohibition against eating from the tree was given to Adam before Eve was even created (Genesis 2:16–18). Therefore, the command could not have pertained to an act requiring both parties.

Third, Adam and Eve’s sexual union is recorded after the fall with no indication of sin or divine disapproval (Genesis 4:1): “Now the man had relations with Eve his wife, and she conceived.” The narrative portrays this as a natural and approved part of the created order, not as a continuation of sin.

Lastly, the linguistic and syntactical structure of the Hebrew text in Genesis 3:6 shows a sequence of events, not simultaneity. The phrase “she also gave some to her husband when with her” is best understood in light of the Hebrew imperfect waw consecutive, indicating subsequent action rather than a simultaneous act of sin.

Therefore, interpreting the original sin as sexual is not only inconsistent with the plain reading of Scripture but also imposes extrabiblical theological ideas onto the text. It is a classic case of eisegesis—reading meaning into the text rather than extracting it from the text.

Was It the Pursuit of Knowledge?

Others argue that the sin was the pursuit of knowledge, with the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” representing a desire for intellectual autonomy. However, this view also conflicts with the biblical witness.

God had already granted both Adam and Eve intellectual capacity and the ability to grow in knowledge. Adam named the animals (Genesis 2:19–20), a task involving observation, categorization, and linguistic creativity. Eve clearly understood the prohibition and the consequences of violating it (Genesis 3:2–3).

Moreover, Scripture consistently presents knowledge in a positive light when sought within the bounds of God’s will. Proverbs 2:6 affirms, “For Jehovah gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Hosea 4:6 warns, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The New Testament further affirms the value of wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9–10; 2 Timothy 3:15–17).

The problem in Genesis 3 was not the pursuit of knowledge per se but the rebellious desire for moral autonomy—the ambition to determine independently what is right and wrong, a prerogative that belongs to God alone.

The Nature of the Tree and the Fruit

The tree itself was literal, planted by God in the midst of the Garden (Genesis 2:9). It was named “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” not because the fruit itself contained mystical properties, but because eating from it was a test of obedience. The tree served as a divine boundary—God’s moral line. Its fruit symbolized the authority to set moral standards. Eating it was not an act of discovery but of defiance.

This is confirmed by the result of their action. The opening of their eyes did not bring divine wisdom but shame, fear, and alienation (Genesis 3:7–10). They became aware of evil not as an academic subject but through personal experience. They now knew evil by doing it, just as Cain would later “know” murder by committing it (Genesis 4:8).

The Real Sin: Disobedience and Rebellion

The New Testament provides a precise interpretation of what occurred in Eden. Romans 5:19 states, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners.” The Apostle Paul identifies the original sin as disobedience, a refusal to submit to God’s command.

Furthermore, 1 Timothy 2:14 clarifies that “Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived and became a transgressor.” This indicates that Adam’s sin was not born of confusion or deception—it was willful rebellion. He knowingly chose to disregard God’s clear instruction.

This disobedience was not a minor infraction but an act of moral treason. Adam and Eve, by eating the fruit, were essentially declaring their independence from their Creator. They were asserting the right to determine good and evil for themselves, challenging God’s exclusive authority to define morality.

This view is further supported by Genesis 3:22, where Jehovah says, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil.” Again, this “knowing” (yada) implies experiential knowledge of evil by crossing the line God had drawn.

A Sin Against God’s Sovereignty

The ultimate issue in Genesis 3 is one of sovereignty. The command not to eat from the tree was God’s way of teaching Adam and Eve that He alone has the right to establish moral law. Their transgression was a rejection of His authority and an attempt to establish their own autonomy.

The original sin, therefore, was a willful act of disobedience that challenged the right of the Creator to define right and wrong. It was not about sex or knowledge but about rebellion against divine rule. This aligns with what Deuteronomy 32:5 says about Israel’s later rebellion: “They have dealt corruptly with Him… they are no longer His children, because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.”

Ecclesiastes 8:9 observes that “man has exercised authority over man to his hurt.” This verse highlights the consequences of rejecting God’s rule in favor of human autonomy. Since Eden, mankind has attempted to define morality apart from God—with devastating results.

Conclusion: The Fall Was a Rejection of God’s Authority

Genesis 3:5 reveals that the temptation was about more than the fruit—it was about becoming “like God” in moral authority. The serpent offered a false elevation, promising divine status through defiance. Adam and Eve seized that offer, thereby rebelling against the moral boundaries set by their Creator.

The original sin was not sex, not a hunger for knowledge, but a deliberate act of disobedience—a rebellion against the Creator’s sovereign right to rule. It was prideful self-exaltation, an attempt to usurp God’s role. This foundational rebellion is the root from which all subsequent sin grows, and it remains a sober reminder of the catastrophic cost of defying the One who alone has the right to define truth, morality, and life itself.

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