Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

◄ Genesis 3:8 ►

New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Now 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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God in the midst of the trees of the garden.

Amplified Bible
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

American Standard Version
And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden.

Contemporary English Version
Late in the afternoon, when the breeze began to blow, the man and woman heard the LORD God walking in the garden. So they hid behind some trees.

English Revised Version
And they heard the voice 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 amongst the trees of the garden.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking around in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees in the garden.

Good News Translation
That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees.

International Standard Version
When they heard the voice of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden during the breeze of the day, the man and his wife concealed themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

NET Bible
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the orchard.

New Heart English Bible
They heard the voice of God walking in the garden during the breeze of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of God among the trees of the garden.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they hear the sound of YHWH God walking up and down in the garden at the breeze of the day, and the man and his wife hide themselves from the face of YHWH God in the midst of the trees of the garden.

Young's Literal Translation
And they hear the sound of Jehovah God walking up and down in the garden at the breeze of the day, and the man and his wife hide themselves from the face of Jehovah God in the midst of the trees of the garden.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they shall hear the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden at the breeze of the day: and Adam and his wife will hide from the face of Jehovah God in the midst of the wood of the garden.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in paradise at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had heard the voice of the Lord God taking a walk in Paradise in the afternoon breeze, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God in the midst of the trees of Paradise.

New American Bible
When they heard the sound of the LORD God walking about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

New Revised Standard Version
They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
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 among the trees of the garden.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they heard the voice of LORD JEHOVAH God walking in Paradise to the declining of the day, and they hid themselves, Adam and his wife, from before LORD JEHOVAH God within the trees that were in Paradise.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden toward the cool of the day; and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the afternoon; and both Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God in the midst of the trees of the garden.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God Arraigns Adam and Eve
8Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

John 1:9-10
The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. / He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

Psalm 139:7-12
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? / If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. / If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, ...

Exodus 33:20
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

1 John 1:5-7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Leviticus 26:12
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.

Ezekiel 37:27
My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.

John 14:23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

1 John 3:20
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Jeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

Psalm 104:3
laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

Job 34:21-22
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. / There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Treasury of Scripture

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 among the trees of the garden.

And they.

Genesis 3:10
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Deuteronomy 4:33
Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

Deuteronomy 5:25
Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.

cool of the day.

Job 34:21,22
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings…

Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

hid.

Job 22:14
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

Job 31:33
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Job 34:22
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

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Adam Amongst Breeze Cool Evening Eyes Garden Hear Heard Hid Midst Presence Secret Sound Themselves Trees Voice Walking Wife Wind

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Adam Amongst Breeze Cool Evening Eyes Garden Hear Heard Hid Midst Presence Secret Sound Themselves Trees Voice Walking Wife Wind

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.

Berean Study Bible

Then the man and his wife
This phrase refers to Adam and Eve, the first humans created by God, as described in Genesis 1 and 2. The Hebrew words for "man" (אָדָם, 'adam) and "wife" (אִשָּׁה, 'ishah) emphasize their unique creation and relationship. Adam, meaning "man" or "mankind," signifies humanity's representative, while 'ishah, meaning "woman," highlights the complementary partnership established by God. This phrase sets the stage for the unfolding drama of human disobedience and the subsequent consequences.

heard the sound
The Hebrew word for "heard" (שָׁמַע, shama) implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and perceiving. The "sound" (קוֹל, qol) of the LORD God suggests a divine presence that is both audible and authoritative. This moment marks a pivotal point where the couple's awareness of God's presence is heightened, yet their response is one of fear and shame due to their disobedience.

of the LORD God
The use of "LORD God" (יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, Yahweh Elohim) combines the personal name of God, Yahweh, with Elohim, a title that denotes His power and sovereignty. This dual designation underscores God's intimate relationship with His creation and His authority over it. The presence of Yahweh Elohim in the garden highlights the gravity of the situation, as the Creator seeks out His creation in the aftermath of their transgression.

walking in the garden
The imagery of God "walking" (הָלַךְ, halak) in the garden suggests a personal and relational aspect of God's character. In the ancient Near Eastern context, deities were often depicted as distant and unapproachable, yet here, Yahweh Elohim is portrayed as actively engaging with His creation. The garden, a place of beauty and provision, becomes the setting for this divine encounter, emphasizing the intended harmony between God and humanity.

in the breeze of the day
The phrase "breeze of the day" (רוּחַ הַיּוֹם, ruach hayom) can be understood as the cool part of the day, often associated with the evening. The word "breeze" (רוּחַ, ruach) also means "spirit" or "wind," suggesting a gentle and refreshing presence. This time of day, traditionally a moment of peace and reflection, contrasts with the tension and fear experienced by Adam and Eve as they confront the consequences of their actions.

and they hid themselves
The act of hiding (חָבָא, chaba) reveals the immediate impact of sin: separation from God. Adam and Eve's attempt to conceal themselves signifies their awareness of guilt and shame. This response marks a tragic shift from the openness and innocence they once enjoyed, illustrating the alienation that sin brings between humanity and God.

from the presence of the LORD God
The "presence" (פָּנִים, panim) of the LORD God represents His face or countenance, symbolizing His favor and fellowship. To hide from God's presence is to reject the relationship for which they were created. This separation is not just physical but spiritual, highlighting the profound loss of intimacy with the Creator.

among the trees of the garden
The trees, once symbols of life and sustenance, now become places of concealment. This setting underscores the irony of their situation: the very environment designed for their flourishing becomes a refuge from the One who provided it. The garden, intended as a sanctuary of communion with God, now witnesses the first fracture in that divine-human relationship.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden.--The matter-of-fact school of commentators understand by this that there was a thunderstorm, and the guilty pair hearing for the first time the uproar of nature, hid themselves in terror, and interpreted the mighty peals as meaning their condemnation. Really it is in admirable keeping with the whole narrative; and Jehovah appears here as the owner of the Paradise, and as taking in it His daily exercise; for the verb is in the reflexive conjugation, and means "walking for pleasure." The time is "the cool (literally, the wind) of the day," the hour in a hot climate when the evening breeze sets in, and men, rising from their noontide slumber, go forth for labour or recreation. In this description the primary lesson is that hitherto man had lived in close communication with God. His intellect was undeveloped; his mental powers still slumbered; but nevertheless there was a deep spiritual sympathy between him and his Maker. It is the nobler side of Adam's relationship to God before the fall.

Hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.--This does not imply a visible appearance, for the whole narrative is anthropomorphic. The Fathers, however, saw in these descriptions the proof of a previous incarnation of the Divine Son (see Note on Genesis 12:7). Next, we find in their conduct an attempt to escape from the further result of sin. The first result was shame, from which man endeavoured to free himself by covering his person; the second was fear, and this man would cure by departing still farther from God. But the voice of Jehovah reaches him, and with rebuke and punishment gives also healing and hope.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - And they heard the voice of the Lord God. Either

(1) the noise of his footsteps (cf. Leviticus 26:33; Numbers 16:34; 2 Samuel 5:24; Knobel, Delitzsch, Keil, Kalisch, Macdonald); or

(2) the thunder that accompanied his approach (cf. Exodus 9:23; Job 37:4, 5; Psalm 29:3, 9; Murphy, Bush); or

(3) the sound of his voice (Calvin, Lange, Wordsworth); or . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then the man
הָֽאָדָ֜ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

and his wife
וְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ (wə·’iš·tōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

heard
וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֞וּ (way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the voice
ק֨וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God
אֱלֹהִ֛ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

walking
מִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ (miṯ·hal·lêḵ)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in the garden
בַּגָּ֖ן (bag·gān)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1588: An enclosure, garden

in the breeze
לְר֣וּחַ (lə·rū·aḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

of the day,
הַיּ֑וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

and they hid themselves
וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֨א (way·yiṯ·ḥab·bê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2244: To withdraw, hide

from the presence
מִפְּנֵי֙ (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

God
אֱלֹהִ֔ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

among
בְּת֖וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the trees
עֵ֥ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of the garden.
הַגָּֽן׃ (hag·gān)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1588: An enclosure, garden

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OT Law: Genesis 3:8 They heard the voice of Yahweh God (Gen. Ge Gn)