Genesis 3:1–7
The First Sin: God’s Command and Human Disobedience
Genesis 2:16-17 gives God’s command; Genesis 3:1-10 records the serpent’s challenge, human disobedience, coverings, hiding, and fear.
Tell Me The Story
In Eden, the serpent challenged God’s words. The woman and the man ate from the tree God had forbidden. Later they hid, and the man said he was afraid.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:1-10
Big Truth
Big truth: God gave a command. The man and woman disobeyed, and afterward they hid. Read Genesis 3:8-10 with a grown-up to hear what happened next.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 2:16-17 · Genesis 3:1-10
Find The Thread
Find the Thread: Listen for the two different voices in the story: what God had said and what the serpent said. Which voice told the truth?
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 2:16-17 · Genesis 3:1-5
Look For This
Look for what the man and woman did after disobeying. Genesis 3:7 describes their coverings. Genesis 3:8–10 describes hiding and fear. Ask a grown-up to read with you.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:1-10
Talk About It
When you do something wrong, who is a safe grown-up you can tell? Why is telling the truth better than hiding?
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:7-10
Family study
Memory verse: Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-10
- What permission and restriction does God give in Genesis 2:16-17?
- What does the serpent ask in Genesis 3:1, and what does he claim in verses 4-5?
- What actions does Genesis 3:6-7 describe?
- What do the man and woman do in Genesis 3:8, and what does the man say in verse 10?
Read Genesis 2:16-17 and Genesis 3:1-10 with a trusted grown-up. On separate paper, make three columns: God says, the serpent says, and people do. Write an observation and verse reference in each column. Explain older KJV words as needed. Discuss the story without asking children to disclose private experiences or keep unsafe secrets; they may always seek help from a safe adult.
Genesis 3:15
The Seed and the Serpent
Genesis 3:15 begins the conflict between the serpent and the woman’s offspring, a theme developed across Scripture.
Tell Me The Story
God spoke to the serpent after the man and woman disobeyed. He said there would be hostility between the serpent and the woman and between their offspring. Ask a grown-up to read Genesis 3:14-15 gently with you.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:14-15
Big Truth
Big truth: God spoke about conflict between the serpent and the woman’s offspring. Listen carefully to what His words say.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:14-15
Find The Thread
Find the Thread: Listen for the serpent, the woman, and seed in Genesis 3:15. In this verse, seed means offspring. A grown-up can help explain the words.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:14-15
Look For This
With a grown-up, find the two pairs introduced by between in Genesis 3:15. Talk about the words without acting out anyone being hurt.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:14-15
Talk About It
As a separate application, name a trusted grown-up you can ask for help when you feel afraid. You may also pray to God for help. You do not have to describe a private experience.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:14-15
Family study
Memory verse: Genesis 3:14-15
- Who speaks to the serpent in Genesis 3:14?
- In Genesis 3:15, between which pairs does God put enmity?
- Which body parts are named in the final part of verse 15?
- Which questions would require us to read and verify later passages before answering?
Read Genesis 3:14-15 with a trusted grown-up in a KJV Bible. Explain enmity as hostility or opposition and seed here as offspring. On separate paper, make two columns: What these verses say and Questions for later Bible study. Add a verse reference to each observation. Discuss the head-and-heel wording without acting out injury or using graphic pictures. Keep later interpretation separate from what Genesis states; the foundation uses the evidence label Strong.
Genesis 3:20–24
Clothed and Sent from Eden
Genesis records God clothing Adam and his wife and guarding the way to the tree of life. Comparing Genesis 2:9 and 3:22-24 traces access within the narrative.
Tell Me The Story
God made clothing for Adam and his wife. He sent the man out of the garden to work the ground. The way to the tree of life was guarded.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:21-24
Big Truth
Big truth: God is kind and caring, and God also takes sin seriously.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:21-24
Find The Thread
Find the Thread: Ask a grown-up to read Genesis 3:21–23. What did God make for Adam and his wife? Were they inside or outside the garden after God sent them out? The passage does not name a town where they went.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:21-23
Look For This
Listen for the clothing God made in Genesis 3:21 and the guarded way to the tree of life in Genesis 3:24.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:21-24
Talk About It
God made clothing for Adam and his wife. What is one kind way you can help someone who needs clothes? Talk with a trusted grown-up; you do not need to share a private story about punishment.
Find it in your Bible: Genesis 3:21-24
Family study
Memory verse: Genesis 3:21-24
- What does the LORD God make and do for Adam and his wife in Genesis 3:21?
- What reason concerning the tree of life is stated in Genesis 3:22?
- What work is named when the man is sent out in Genesis 3:23?
- What is guarded in Genesis 3:24?
Read Genesis 3:21-24 with a trusted grown-up. On separate paper, make two columns: What God provides and What access is guarded. Add a verse reference beside each observation. Explain unfamiliar KJV words without graphic detail. Genesis 3:21 says God made coats of skins and clothed them; this passage does not describe a sacrifice ritual. Do not treat family punishments as equivalent to God’s actions in Eden. Children can always seek help from a safe adult when a rule or action hurts or frightens them.