The account of man's disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit is a pivotal event in the biblical narrative, marking the entrance of sin into the world. This event is recorded in the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, which details the creation of the world and the early history of humanity.

Creation and Command

God created man in His own image, forming Adam from the dust of the ground and breathing into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, a paradise filled with every tree that was pleasing to the eye and good for food. Among these trees were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9).

God commanded Adam, saying, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). This command established a clear boundary and a test of obedience for Adam.

The Temptation and Fall

The serpent, described as more cunning than any beast of the field, approached Eve, the woman God had created as a companion for Adam (Genesis 3:1). The serpent questioned God's command, saying, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1). This question sowed doubt in Eve's mind about God's word and intentions.

Eve responded that they could eat from the trees in the garden, but not from the tree in the middle of the garden, lest they die (Genesis 3:2-3). The serpent contradicted God, asserting, "You will not surely die... For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5).

Eve, seeing that the fruit was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, took some and ate it. She also gave some to Adam, who was with her, and he ate it as well (Genesis 3:6). This act of disobedience was a direct violation of God's command and demonstrated a desire to be autonomous from God.

Consequences of Disobedience

Immediately after eating the fruit, Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, and they realized their nakedness. They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves (Genesis 3:7). When God came to walk in the garden, Adam and Eve hid from Him, indicating a newfound sense of shame and fear (Genesis 3:8).

God confronted Adam, who blamed Eve for giving him the fruit, while Eve blamed the serpent for deceiving her (Genesis 3:12-13). As a result of their disobedience, God pronounced curses upon the serpent, Eve, and Adam. The serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly and eat dust (Genesis 3:14). Eve was told she would experience increased pain in childbirth and a desire for her husband, who would rule over her (Genesis 3:16). Adam was told that the ground would be cursed because of him, and he would toil and labor for his sustenance until he returned to the dust (Genesis 3:17-19).

Expulsion from Eden

To prevent Adam and Eve from eating from the tree of life and living forever in their fallen state, God banished them from the Garden of Eden. He placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24).

This act of disobedience had profound implications for all of humanity, introducing sin and death into the world. The Apostle Paul later reflects on this event, stating, "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" (Romans 5:12). This foundational event underscores the need for redemption and the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, the "last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45).Genesis 3:1-12
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On Our First Parents and their Fall
... the fruit of one tree, and if they disobeyed Him by ... All the people in the world could
never induce God to open ... Let us suppose a man's father leaves him a large ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 5 on our first.htm

The Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent
... For God compels no man to sin. ... Disobeyed thy God, obeyed the devil, and ruined
thy husband, for whom I made thee to be an help-meet! ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the seed of the woman.htm

The Heinous Sin of Drunkenness
... and had no right, after he had disobeyed his Creator ... is not what entereth into the
man defileth the man." And so ... to "be filled with the Spirit of God," and then ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the heinous sin of drunkenness.htm

1 Cor. Ix. 1
... and yet when there is need to give to a poor man, becoming more ... hath done but from
what thou hast heard and disobeyed, from that, I say, doth God pass his ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxi 1 cor ix.htm

Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews.
... not beauty of soul, [3294]498; man, an emperor ... 3389]494; commanding simplicity of
attire utterly disobeyed in the ... 3396]376, [3397]407; taught that God the Son ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the epistle to.htm

Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men
... king of Judah: and so he disobeyed the advice ... strong anxiety I feel that every young
man should regularly ... By God's blessing, the ministry of the gospel might ...
/.../chapter xix tit 2 6 thoughts.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... yet it might be so set apart for man, long before it ... evil, the penalty was then,
if he disobeyed, annexed to ... the breach thereof, should be hid with God for the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

Extracts No. X.
... upright, but he sought out many inventions." By listening unto that apostate spirit,
Satan, he transgressed and disobeyed his maker ... "God made man in his ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no x.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... the sacred Scriptures for himself; he had disobeyed the gospel ... stretched out my hand,
and no man regarded; I ... have, and also the rejection that God will give to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... lions there in readiness to devour those that disobeyed it? ... a second stroke that
God will give this man of sin ... the most heat, and fiercest wrath of God doth lie ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

What does the Bible say about being a man? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the man of God and the lying prophet? | GotQuestions.org

How is the fear of man a snare (Proverbs 29:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Man: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus