The Fall

Genesis 3

The serpent deceives the woman into eating fruit from the forbidden tree, and she and Adam eat and become ashamed of their nakedness. The Lord confronts them, curses the serpent and the ground, pronounces sorrow and toil on the woman and the man, clothes them in garments of skin, and drives them from the garden.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomson—

BrentonNow the serpent was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden?

GreekὉ δὲ ὄφις ἦν φρονιμώτατος πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεός· καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικὶ, τί ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ Θεός, οὐ μὴ φάγητε ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου;

KJVNow the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

JPSNow the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman: ‘Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’

ThomsonAnd the woman said to the serpent, “Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

BrentonAnd the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden,

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ὄφει, ἀπὸ καρποῦ τοῦ ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου φαγούμεθα·

KJVAnd the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

JPSAnd the woman said unto the serpent: ‘Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Thomsonbut of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God said, You shall not eat of it, nor touch it, that you may not die.”

Brentonbut of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

GreekἈπὸ δὲ τοῦ καρποῦ τοῦ ξύλου, ὅ ἐστιν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ παραδείσου, εἶπεν ὁ Θεός, οὐ φάγεσθε ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ μὴ ἅψησθε αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνητε.

KJVBut of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

JPSbut of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’

ThomsonAnd the serpent said to the woman, “You will not by death die.

BrentonAnd the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί· οὐ θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖσθε·

KJVAnd the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

JPSAnd the serpent said unto the woman: ‘Ye shall not surely die;

ThomsonFor God knew that in the day you eat thereof, your eyes would be opened and you would be like gods knowing good and evil.”

BrentonFor God knew that in whatever day ye should eat of it your eyes would be opened, and ye would be as gods, knowing good and evil.

GreekἬδει γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ φάγητε ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, διανοιχθήσονται ὑμῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί, καὶ ἔσεσθε ὡς θεοί, γινώσκοντες καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν.

KJVFor God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

JPSfor God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.’

ThomsonAnd the woman saw that the tree was good for food; and that it is delightful to see with the eyes; and that to exercise understanding is comely, so having taken some of the fruit thereof, she ate and gave also to her husband with her.

BrentonAnd the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes to look upon and beautiful to contemplate, and having taken of its fruit she ate, and she gave to her husband also with her, and they ate.

GreekΚαὶ εἶδεν ἡ γυνὴ, ὅτι καλὸν τὸ ξύλον εἰς βρῶσιν, καὶ ὅτι ἀρεστὸν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἰδεῖν, καὶ ὡραῖόν ἐστι τοῦ κατανοῆσαι· καὶ λαβοῦσα ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ αὐτοῦ, ἔφαγε· καὶ ἔδωκε καὶ τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς μετʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἔφαγον.

KJVAnd when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

JPSAnd 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 desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

ThomsonAnd when they had eaten, the eyes of them both were opened, and they perceived that they were naked. And they sewed together fig leaves and made for themselves girdles.

BrentonAnd the eyes of both were opened, and they perceived that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons to go round them.

GreekΚαὶ διηνοίχθησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ τῶν δύο, καὶ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι γυμνοὶ ἦσαν· καὶ ἔῤῥαψαν φύλλα συκῆς, καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς περιζώματα.

KJVAnd the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

JPSAnd the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves girdles.

ThomsonAnd when they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening, both Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God, among the trees of the garden.

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσαν τὴς φωνὴς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ περιπατοῦντος ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τὸ δειλινόν· καὶ ἐκρύβησαν ὅ, τε Ἀδὰμ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonAnd the Lord God called Adam and said to him, “Adam, where art thou?”

BrentonAnd the Lord God called Adam and said to him, Adam, where art thou?

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Ἀδὰμ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἀδὰμ ποῦ εἶ;

KJVAnd the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

JPSAnd the LORD God called unto the man, and said unto him: ‘Where art thou?’

ThomsonAnd he said to Him, “I heard the sound of thee walking in the garden and I was afraid, because I am naked, and I hid myself.”

BrentonAnd he said to him, I heard thy voice as thou walkedst in the garden, and I feared because I was naked and I hid myself.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τὴς φωνῆς σου ἤκουσα περιπατοῦντος ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ, καὶ ἐφοβήθην ὅτι γυμνός εἰμι, καὶ ἐκρύβην.

KJVAnd he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

JPSAnd he said: ‘I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’

ThomsonAnd God said to him, “Who told thee that thou art naked, if so be thou hast not eaten of the tree of which alone I commanded thee not to eat of this?”

BrentonAnd 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?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, τὶς ἀνήγγειλέ σοι ὅτι γυμνὸς εἶ, εἰ μὴ ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, οὗ ἐνετειλάμην σοι τούτου μόνου μὴ φαγεῖν, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἔφαγες;

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

JPSAnd He said: ‘Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?’

ThomsonAnd Adam said, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I did eat.”

BrentonAnd Adam said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me—she gave me of the tree and I ate.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ἀδάμ· ἡ γυνή, ἣν ἔδωκας μετʼ ἐμοῦ, αὕτη μοι ἔδωκεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, καὶ ἔφαγον.

KJVAnd the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

JPSAnd the man said: ‘The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’

ThomsonAnd the Lord God said to the woman, “Why hast thou done this?” And the woman said, “The serpent seduced me and I ate.”

BrentonAnd the Lord God said to the woman, Why hast thou done this? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me and I ate.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῇ γυναικί· τί τοῦτο ἐποιήσας; καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ, ὁ ὄφις ἠπάτησέ με, καὶ ἔφαγον.

KJVAnd the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

JPSAnd the LORD God said unto the woman: ‘What is this thou hast done?’ And the woman said: ‘The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.’

ThomsonAnd the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed from all the cattle and from all the beasts which are upon the earth. Upon thy breast and belly thou shalt go and shalt eat earth all the days of thy life.

BrentonAnd the Lord God said to the serpent, Because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all cattle and all the brutes of the earth, on thy breast and belly thou shalt go, and thou shalt eat earth all the days of thy life.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῷ ὄφει· ὅτι ἐποίησας τοῦτο, ἐπικατάρατος σὺ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· ἐπὶ τῷ στήθει σου καὶ τῇ κοιλίᾳ πορεύσῃ, καὶ γῆν φαγῃ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου.

KJVAnd the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

JPSAnd the LORD God said unto the serpent: ‘Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

ThomsonAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman; and between thy seed and her seed. He will wound thy head, and thou wilt wound his heel.”

BrentonAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, he shall watch against thy head, and thou shalt watch against his heel.

GreekΚαὶ ἔχθραν θήσω ἀνὰ μέσον σοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς γυναικὸς, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός σου, καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς· αὐτός σοῦ τηρήσει κεφαλὴν, καὶ σὺ τηρήσεις αὐτοῦ πτέρναν.

KJVAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

JPSAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise their heel.’

ThomsonAnd to the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply thy sorrows and thy anguish. With sorrows thou shalt bear children and to thy husband shall be thy recourse, and he shall rule over thee.”

BrentonAnd to the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pains and thy groanings; in pain thou shalt bring forth children, and thy submission shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

GreekΚαὶ τῇ γυναικὶ εἶπε· πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὰς λύπας σου, καὶ τὸν στεναγμόν σου· ἐν λύπαις τέξῃ τέκνα, καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα σου ἡ ἀποστροφή σου· καὶ αὐτός σου κυριεύσει.

KJVUnto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

JPSUnto the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.’

ThomsonAnd to Adam He said, “Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and eaten of the tree of which alone I commanded thee not to eat, the ground is cursed by thy labours. With sorrows thou shalt eat of it all the days of thy life.

BrentonAnd to Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and eaten of the tree concerning which I charged thee of it only not to eat—of that thou hast eaten, cursed is the ground in thy labours, in pain shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

GreekΤῷ δὲ Ἀδὰμ εἶπεν· ὅτι ἤκουσας τῆς φωνῆς τῆς γυναικός σου, καὶ ἔφαγες ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, οὗ ἐνετειλάμην σοι τούτου μόνου μὴ φαγεῖν, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ ἔφαγες, ἐπικατάρατος ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις σου· ἐν λύπαις φάγῃ αὐτὴν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου.

KJVAnd unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

JPSAnd unto Adam He said: ‘Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying: Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

ThomsonThorns and thistles it shall cause to spring up for thee, and thou shalt eat the herbs of the field.

BrentonThorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

GreekἈκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους ἀνατελεῖ σοι, καὶ φαγῇ τὸν χόρτον τοῦ ἀγροῦ.

KJVThorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

JPSThorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

ThomsonBy the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread until thou return into the earth out of which thou wast taken; for earth thou art and to earth thou shalt return.”

BrentonIn the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken, for earth thou art and to earth thou shalt return.

GreekἘν ἱδρῶτι τοῦ προσώπου σου φαγῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου, ἕως τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι σε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθης· ὅτι γῆ εἶ, καὶ εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσῃ.

KJVIn the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

JPSIn the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.’

ThomsonAnd Adam called the name of his wife LIFE [Eve], because she was to be the mother of all the living.

BrentonAnd Adam called the name of his wife Life, because she was the mother of all living.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἀδὰμ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ Ζωή, ὅτι μήτηρ πάντων τῶν ζώντων.

KJVAnd Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

JPSAnd the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

ThomsonAnd the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and clothed them.

BrentonAnd the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin, and clothed them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῷ Ἀδὰμ, καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ χιτῶνας δερματίνους, καὶ ἐνέδυσεν αὐτούς.

KJVUnto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

JPSAnd the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them.

ThomsonAnd God said, “Behold Adam was made like one of us to know good and evil. And now perhaps he may stretch forth his hand and take of the Tree of Life and eat, so shall he live forever.”

BrentonAnd God said, Behold, Adam is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now lest at any time he stretch forth his hand, and take of the tree of life and eat, and so he shall live for ever—

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός, ἰδοὺ Ἀδὰμ γέγονεν ὡς εἷς ἐξ ἡμῶν, τοῦ γινώσκειν καλὸν καὶ πονηρόν· καὶ νῦν μή ποτε ἐκτείνῃ τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ λάβῃ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς καὶ φάγῃ, καὶ ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

KJVAnd the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

JPSAnd the LORD God said: ‘Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.’

ThomsonSo the Lord God sent him out of the garden of pleasure to till the ground out of which he was taken.

BrentonSo the Lord God sent him forth out of the garden of Delight to cultivate the ground out of which he was taken.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτὸν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς τρυφῆς, ἐργάζεσθαι τὴν γῆν ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθη.

KJVTherefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

JPSTherefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

ThomsonAnd when He put Adam out He caused him to dwell over against the garden of pleasure and stationed the Cherubims and the whirling flame of fire to keep the way to the Tree of Life.

BrentonAnd he cast out Adam and caused him to dwell over against the garden of Delight, and stationed the cherubs and the fiery sword that turns about to keep the way of the tree of life.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξέβαλεν τὸν Ἀδὰμ, καὶ κατῴκισεν αὐτὸν ἀπέναντι τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς τρυφῆς· καὶ ἔταξε τὰ χερουβὶμ· καὶ τὴν φλογίνην ῥομφαίαν τὴν στρεφομένην, φυλάσσειν τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς.

KJVSo he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

JPSSo He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way to the tree of life.