Genesis 3:11
New International Version
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

New Living Translation
“Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

English Standard Version
He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Berean Standard Bible
“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

King James Bible
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

New King James Version
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

New American Standard Bible
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?”

NASB 1995
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

NASB 1977
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Amplified Bible
God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten [fruit] from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

American Standard Version
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Contemporary English Version
"How did you know you were naked?" God asked. "Did you eat any fruit from that tree in the middle of the garden?"

English Revised Version
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat fruit from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?"

Good News Translation
"Who told you that you were naked?" God asked. "Did you eat the fruit that I told you not to eat?"

International Standard Version
"Who told you that you are naked?" God asked. "Did you eat fruit from the tree that I commanded you not to eat?"

Majority Standard Bible
“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

NET Bible
And the LORD God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

New Heart English Bible
And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, that thou shouldest not eat?

World English Bible
God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He says, “Who has declared to you that you [are] naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I have commanded you not to eat?”

Young's Literal Translation
And He saith, 'Who hath declared to thee that thou art naked? of the tree of which I have commanded thee not to eat, hast thou eaten?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, Who showed to thee that thou art naked? Of the tree which I charged thee not to eat, didst thou eat from it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to him: And who hath told thee that thou wast naked, but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat?

Catholic Public Domain Version
He said to him, “Then who told you that you were naked, if you have not eaten of the tree from which I instructed you that you should not eat?”

New American Bible
Then God asked: Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat?

New Revised Standard Version
He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD God said to him, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to him, “Who showed you that you are naked? Behold, have you eaten from the tree of which I ordered you, that you shall not eat from it?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And He said: 'Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God said to him, Who told thee that thou wast naked, unless thou hast eaten of the tree concerning which I charged thee of it alone not to eat?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Arraigns Adam and Eve
10“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”…

Cross References
Romans 5:12-19
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. / For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. / Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come. ...

1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 20:2
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

Romans 7:7-11
What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” / But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead. / Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ...

1 Timothy 2:14
And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.

John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Matthew 4:3-4
The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” / But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Hosea 6:7
But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.

Psalm 32:1-5
Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit. / When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. ...

Psalm 51:3-5
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. / Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge. / Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?


Treasury of Scripture

And he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?

Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Psalm 50:21
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

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Clothing Commanded Declared Eat Eaten Fruit Naked Shouldest Tree Wast Whereof
Genesis 3
1. The serpent deceives Eve.
6. Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin.
8. God arraigns them.
14. The serpent is cursed.
15. The promised seed.
16. The punishment of mankind.
21. Their first clothing.
22. Their expulsion from paradise.














Who told you
This phrase marks the beginning of God's direct confrontation with Adam after the Fall. The Hebrew word for "told" is "נָגַד" (nagad), which implies a declaration or revelation. This question is not just about information but about the source of that information. It highlights the shift from divine revelation to human reasoning influenced by external, deceptive sources. In a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the importance of discerning the voice of God amidst the myriad of voices in the world.

that you were naked?
The awareness of nakedness signifies a loss of innocence and the entrance of shame. The Hebrew word for "naked" is "עֵירֹם" (erom), which is used here to denote vulnerability and exposure. This newfound awareness is a direct result of sin, illustrating the immediate spiritual and psychological consequences of disobedience. Historically, this moment marks the first instance of human self-consciousness in a fallen state, contrasting with the previous state of purity and openness before God.

Have you eaten
This question is a divine inquiry into Adam's actions, emphasizing personal responsibility. The Hebrew verb "אָכַל" (akal) means to consume or partake. God's question is not for His own knowledge but to prompt Adam to acknowledge his disobedience. In a broader scriptural context, this reflects the biblical theme of accountability, where God calls individuals to account for their actions, a principle that runs throughout Scripture.

from the tree
The specific mention of "the tree" refers to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had explicitly forbidden. The Hebrew word for "tree" is "עֵץ" (ets), symbolizing the boundary set by God for human freedom. This tree represents the choice between obedience and rebellion, a central theme in the narrative of Genesis. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the limits God places for human flourishing and the consequences of transgressing those limits.

of which I commanded you not to eat?
This phrase underscores the divine command and the clear boundary set by God. The Hebrew word for "commanded" is "צָוָה" (tsavah), indicating a directive given with authority. The emphasis on God's command highlights the seriousness of Adam's transgression. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this reflects the importance of adhering to God's Word as the ultimate authority in life. The phrase also serves as a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and humanity, where obedience is a response to God's sovereign will.

(11) Who told thee that thou wast naked?--Adam had given as his excuse that which was really the consequence of his sin; but by this question God awakens his conscience, and makes him feel that what he had described as a want or imperfection was really the result of his own act. And as long as a man feels sorrow only for the results of his actions there is no repentance, and no wish to return to the Divine presence. God, therefore, in order to win Adam back to better thoughts, carries his mind from the effect to the sin that had caused it.

Verses 11, 12. - And he said. "To reprove the sottishness of Adam" (Calvin); "to awaken in him a sense of sin" (Keil). Who told thee that thou wast naked? Delitzsch finds in מִי an indication that a personal power was the prime cause of man's disobedience; but, as Lange rightly observes, it is the occasion not of sin, but of the consciousness of nakedness that is here inquired after. Hast thou eaten of the tree (at once pointing Adam to the true cause of his nakedness, and intimating the Divine cognizance of his transgression) whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? "Added to remove the pretext of ignorance" (Calvin), and also to aggravate the guilt of his offence, as having been done in direct violation of the Divine prohibition. The question was fitted to carry conviction to Adam's conscience, and halt the instantaneous effect of eliciting a confession, though neither a frank one nor a generous. And the man said (beginning with apology and ending with confession, thus reversing the natural order, and practically rolling back the blame on God), The woman whom thou gavest to be with me (accusing the gift and the Giver in one), she gave me of the tree. Cf. with the cold and unfeeling terms in which Adam speaks of Eve the similar language in Genesis 37:32; Luke 15:30; John 9:12. "Without natural affection" is one of the bitter fruits of sin (cf. Romans 1:31). Equally with the blasphemy, ingratitude, unkindness, and meanness of this excuse, its frivolity is apparent; as if, though Eve gave, that was any reason why Adam should have eaten. And I did eat. Reluctantly elicited, the confession of his sin is very mildly stated. "A cold expression, manifesting neither any grief nor shame at so foul an act, but rather a desire to cover his sin" (White).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Who
מִ֚י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

told
הִגִּ֣יד (hig·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

you
אָ֑תָּה (’āt·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you [were] naked?”
עֵירֹ֖ם (‘ê·rōm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5903: Naked, nakedness

asked the LORD God.
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Have you eaten
אֲכָל־ (’ă·ḵāl-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 398: To eat

of
הֲמִן־ (hă·min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the tree
הָעֵ֗ץ (hā·‘êṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

from which
אֲשֶׁ֧ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I commanded you
צִוִּיתִ֛יךָ (ṣiw·wî·ṯî·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

not to
לְבִלְתִּ֥י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

eat?”
אָכָֽלְתָּ׃ (’ā·ḵā·lə·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat


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