The Serpent’s Deception
(Romans 5:12–21)

1 וְהַנָּחָשׁ֙ (And the serpent) הָיָ֣ה (was) עָר֔וּם (cunning) מִכֹּל֙ (above every) חַיַּ֣ת (beast) הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (of the field) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (had made) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (God). וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), אַ֚ף (Is it true) כִּֽי־ (that) אָמַ֣ר (has said) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), לֹ֣א (Not) תֹֽאכְל֔וּ (you⁺ shall eat) מִכֹּ֖ל (from any) עֵ֥ץ (tree) הַגָּֽן׃ (of the garden)?

2 וַתֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman) אֶל־ (to) הַנָּחָ֑שׁ (the serpent), מִפְּרִ֥י (From the fruit) עֵֽץ־ (of the trees) הַגָּ֖ן (of the garden) נֹאכֵֽל׃ (we may eat),

3 וּמִפְּרִ֣י (and from the fruit) הָעֵץ֮ (of the tree) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which is) בְּתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) הַגָּן֒ (of the garden) אָמַ֣ר (has said) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (God): לֹ֤א (Not) תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ (you⁺ shall eat) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (from it), וְלֹ֥א (and not) תִגְּע֖וּ (shall you⁺ touch) בּ֑וֹ (it), פֶּן־ (lest) תְּמֻתֽוּן׃ (you⁺ die).

4 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) הַנָּחָ֖שׁ (the serpent) אֶל־ (to) הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה (the woman), לֹֽא־ (Not) מ֖וֹת (dying) תְּמֻתֽוּן׃ (you⁺ will die)!

5 כִּ֚י (For) יֹדֵ֣עַ (knows) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God) כִּ֗י (that) בְּיוֹם֙ (in the day) אֲכָלְכֶ֣ם (of your⁺ eating) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (from it), וְנִפְקְח֖וּ (then will be opened) עֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ eyes), וִהְיִיתֶם֙ (and you⁺ will be) כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים (like God), יֹדְעֵ֖י (knowing) ט֥וֹב (good) וָרָֽע׃ (and evil).

6 וַתֵּ֣רֶא (And saw) הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה (the woman) כִּ֣י (that) טוֹב֩ (was good) הָעֵ֨ץ (the tree) לְמַאֲכָ֜ל (for food), וְכִ֧י (and that) תַֽאֲוָה־ (pleasant) ה֣וּא (it was) לָעֵינַ֗יִם (to the eyes), וְנֶחְמָ֤ד (and was desirable) הָעֵץ֙ (the tree) לְהַשְׂכִּ֔יל (to make one wise). וַתִּקַּ֥ח (And she took) מִפִּרְי֖וֹ (from its fruit) וַתֹּאכַ֑ל (and ate). וַתִּתֵּ֧ן (And she gave) גַּם־ (also) לְאִישָׁ֛הּ (to her husband) עִמָּ֖הּ (with her), וַיֹּאכַֽל׃ (and he ate).

7 וַתִּפָּקַ֙חְנָה֙ (And were opened) עֵינֵ֣י (the eyes) שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם (of the two of them), וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ (and they knew) כִּ֥י (that) עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם (were naked) הֵ֑ם (they); וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ (and they sewed together) עֲלֵ֣ה (leaves) תְאֵנָ֔ה (of the fig tree) וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ (and made) לָהֶ֖ם (for themselves) חֲגֹרֹֽת׃ (loincloths).

God Arraigns Adam and Eve

8 וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֞וּ (And they heard) אֶת־ (-) ק֨וֹל (the voice) יְהוָ֧ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (God) מִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ (walking about) בַּגָּ֖ן (in the garden) לְר֣וּחַ (in the breeze) הַיּ֑וֹם (of the day); וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֨א (and hid themselves) הָֽאָדָ֜ם (the man) וְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ (and his wife) מִפְּנֵי֙ (from the face) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), בְּת֖וֹךְ (in the midst) עֵ֥ץ (of the trees) הַגָּֽן׃ (of the garden).

9 וַיִּקְרָ֛א (And called) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֶל־ (to) הָֽאָדָ֑ם (the man) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (and He said) ל֖וֹ (to him), אַיֶּֽכָּה׃ (Where are you)?

10 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), אֶת־ (-) קֹלְךָ֥ (Your voice) שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי (I heard) בַּגָּ֑ן (in the garden) וָאִירָ֛א (and I was afraid), כִּֽי־ (because) עֵירֹ֥ם (am naked) אָנֹ֖כִי (I); וָאֵחָבֵֽא׃ (and I hid myself).

11 וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And He said), מִ֚י (Who) הִגִּ֣יד (told) לְךָ֔ (you) כִּ֥י (that) עֵירֹ֖ם (naked) אָ֑תָּה (you were)? הֲמִן־ (From) הָעֵ֗ץ (the tree) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (of which) צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ (I commanded you) לְבִלְתִּ֥י (not) אֲכָל־ (to eat), מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (from it) אָכָֽלְתָּ׃ (have you eaten)?

12 וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) הָֽאָדָ֑ם (the man), הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (The woman) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) נָתַ֣תָּה (You gave) עִמָּדִ֔י (to be with me), הִ֛וא (she) נָֽתְנָה־ (gave) לִּ֥י (to me) מִן־ (from) הָעֵ֖ץ (the tree), וָאֹכֵֽל׃ (and I ate).

13 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (God) לָאִשָּׁ֖ה (to the woman), מַה־ (What is) זֹּ֣את (this) עָשִׂ֑ית (you have done)? וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), הַנָּחָ֥שׁ (The serpent) הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי (deceived me), וָאֹכֵֽל׃ (and I ate).

The Fate of the Serpent

14 וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) יְהֹוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֥ים׀ (God) אֶֽל־ (to) הַנָּחָשׁ֮ (the serpent), כִּ֣י (Because) עָשִׂ֣יתָ (you have done) זֹּאת֒ (this), אָר֤וּר (cursed) אַתָּה֙ (are you) מִכָּל־ (above all) הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה (the livestock), וּמִכֹּ֖ל (and above every) חַיַּ֣ת (beast) הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה (of the field); עַל־ (on) גְּחֹנְךָ֣ (your belly) תֵלֵ֔ךְ (you shall go), וְעָפָ֥ר (and dust) תֹּאכַ֖ל (you shall eat), כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיֶּֽיךָ׃ (of your life).

15 וְאֵיבָ֣ה׀ (And enmity) אָשִׁ֗ית (I will put) בֵּֽינְךָ֙ (between you) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), וּבֵ֥ין (and between) זַרְעֲךָ֖ (your seed) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) זַרְעָ֑הּ (her seed); ה֚וּא (he) יְשׁוּפְךָ֣ (shall bruise you) רֹ֔אשׁ (on the head), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) תְּשׁוּפֶ֥נּוּ (shall bruise him) עָקֵֽב׃ס (on the heel).

The Punishment of Mankind

16 אֶֽל־ (To) הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (the woman) אָמַ֗ר (He said), הַרְבָּ֤ה (Multiplying) אַרְבֶּה֙ (I will multiply) עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ (your pain) וְהֵֽרֹנֵ֔ךְ (and your childbearing); בְּעֶ֖צֶב (in pain) תֵּֽלְדִ֣י (you will bear) בָנִ֑ים (children). וְאֶל־ (And toward) אִישֵׁךְ֙ (your husband) תְּשׁ֣וּקָתֵ֔ךְ (your desire will be), וְה֖וּא (and he) יִמְשָׁל־ (will rule) בָּֽךְ׃ס (over you).

17 וּלְאָדָ֣ם (And to the man) אָמַ֗ר (He said), כִּֽי־ (Because) שָׁמַעְתָּ֮ (you have listened) לְק֣וֹל (to the voice) אִשְׁתֶּךָ֒ (of your wife), וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ (and ate) מִן־ (from) הָעֵ֔ץ (the tree) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (of which) צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ (I commanded you), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying) לֹ֥א (not) תֹאכַ֖ל (you shall eat) מִמֶּ֑נּוּ (from it): אֲרוּרָ֤ה (Cursed is) הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ (the ground) בַּֽעֲבוּרֶ֔ךָ (on your account); בְּעִצָּבוֹן֙ (in toil) תֹּֽאכֲלֶ֔נָּה (you shall eat of it) כֹּ֖ל (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיֶּֽיךָ׃ (of your life);

18 וְק֥וֹץ (and thorn) וְדַרְדַּ֖ר (and thistle) תַּצְמִ֣יחַֽ (it will cause to grow) לָ֑ךְ (for you), וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ (and you shall eat) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֥שֶׂב (the vegetation) הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (of the field).

19 בְּזֵעַ֤ת (By the sweat) אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ (of your nose) תֹּ֣אכַל (you shall eat) לֶ֔חֶם (bread), עַ֤ד (until) שֽׁוּבְךָ֙ (your returning) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה (the ground)— כִּ֥י (for) מִמֶּ֖נָּה (from it) לֻקָּ֑חְתָּ (you were taken). כִּֽי־ (For) עָפָ֣ר (dust) אַ֔תָּה (you are), וְאֶל־ (and to) עָפָ֖ר (dust) תָּשֽׁוּב׃ (you shall return).

20 וַיִּקְרָ֧א (And called) הָֽאָדָ֛ם (the man) שֵׁ֥ם (the name) אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (of his wife) חַוָּ֑ה (Eve), כִּ֛י (because) הִ֥וא (she) הָֽיְתָ֖ה (was) אֵ֥ם (the mother) כָּל־ (of all) חָֽי׃ (the living).

The Expulsion from Paradise

21 וַיַּעַשׂ֩ (And made) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֜ים (God) לְאָדָ֧ם (for the man) וּלְאִשְׁתּ֛וֹ (and for his wife) כָּתְנ֥וֹת (tunics) ע֖וֹר (of skin), וַיַּלְבִּשֵֽׁם׃פ (and He clothed them).

22 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (And said), יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (God), הֵ֤ן (Behold), הָֽאָדָם֙ (the man) הָיָה֙ (has become) כְּאַחַ֣ד (like one) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (of Us), לָדַ֖עַת (in knowing) ט֣וֹב (good) וָרָ֑ע (and evil); וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (and now), פֶּן־ (lest) יִשְׁלַ֣ח (he stretch out) יָד֗וֹ (his hand) וְלָקַח֙ (and take) גַּ֚ם (also) מֵעֵ֣ץ (from the tree) הַֽחַיִּ֔ים (of life), וְאָכַ֖ל (and eat), וָחַ֥י (and live) לְעֹלָֽם׃ (forever)...

23 וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֛הוּ (And sent him) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) מִגַּן־ (out of the garden) עֵ֑דֶן (of Eden) לַֽעֲבֹד֙ (to work) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה (the ground) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) לֻקַּ֖ח (he had been taken) מִשָּֽׁם׃ (from).

24 וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ (And He drove out) אֶת־ (-) הָֽאָדָ֑ם (the man), וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ (and He caused to dwell) מִקֶּ֨דֶם (at the east) לְגַן־ (of the garden) עֵ֜דֶן (of Eden) אֶת־ (-) הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים (the cherubim) וְאֵ֨ת (and) לַ֤הַט (the flame) הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ (of the sword) הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת (that turns itself), לִשְׁמֹ֕ר (to guard) אֶת־ (-) דֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way to) עֵ֥ץ (the tree) הַֽחַיִּֽים׃ס (of life).