From ReformedWord

v • d • e Books of the Bible   Books originally written in Hebrew and/or Aramaic, the so-called Old Testament Historical Literature Primary History The Book of the Law (Genesis · Exodus · Leviticus · Numbers · Deuteronomy · Joshua)  Judges — Ruth* The History of Kings (1&2 Samuel · 1&2 Kings) Chronicler's History 1&2 Chronicles · Ezra/Nehemiah — Esther* Wisdom Literature  Job • Psalms • Proverbs • Ecclesiastes • Song of Songs Prophetic Literature  Major Prophets Isaiah • Jeremiah • Lamentations • Ezekiel • Daniel Minor Prophets Hosea · Joel · Amos · Obadiah · Jonah · Micah · Nahum · Habakkuk · Zephaniah · Haggai · Zechariah · Malachi * Neither Ruth nor Esther fit into their groups listed here   Hebrew Scriptures as organized by the Jews, a.k.a. the Tanak Torah   Genesis · Exodus · Leviticus · Numbers · Deuteronomy Prophets Former Joshua · Judges · Samuel · Kings Latter Isaiah · Jeremiah · Ezekiel · The Twelve (Hosea · Joel · Amos · Obadiah · Jonah · Micah · Nahum · Habakkuk · Zephaniah · Haggai · Zechariah · Malachi) Writings "Truth" Psalms · Proverbs · Job "Five" Song of Songs · Ruth · Lamentations · Ecclesiastes · Esther History Daniel · Esdras · Chronicles   Books originally written in Greek, the so-called New Testament Gospel Accounts   Matthew · Mark · Luke-Acts — John Epistles Pauline Churches  — Romans • 1 Corinthians · 2 Corinthians • Galatians • Ephesians • Philippians • Colossians • 1 Thessalonians · 2 Thessalonians Persons  — 1 Timothy · 2 Timothy • Titus • Philemon General Hebrews • James • 1 Peter · 2 Peter • 1 John · 2 John · 3 John • Jude Apocalyptic Literature The Revelation according to the Apostle John   New Testament by where and when in Chronological Order From Corinth to Rome Judea Rome Roman Prison Ephesus Jewish Christian Matthew • James Hebrews Jude* Pauline/Lukan 1 Thessalonians • 2 Thessalonians • Galatians • 1 Corinthians • Romans • 2 Corinthians • Ephesians Philippians • Colossians • Philemon Luke-Acts 1 Timothy • Titus • 2 Timothy Markan/Petrine Mark 1 Peter • 2 Peter Johannine 1 John • 2 John • 3 John • Revelation • John Timeline 52-61 61,62 62,63 64,65 69-98 * The circumstances of Jude's composition are not known

v • d • e «Genesis», «chapter 3», «verse 1» Inspired in the Hebrew language. Preceded by: Genesis 2:25 Section: Fall Followed by: Genesis 3:2 Hebrew וְהַנָּחָשׁ، הָיָה، עָרוּם، מִכֹּל، חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה، יְהוָה، אֱלֹהִים، וַיֹּאמֶר، אֶל ־ הָאִשָּׁה אַף כִּי ־ אָמַר، אֱלֹהִים، לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִכֹּל، עֵץ، הַגָּן ׃ T R A N S L A T I O N S Greek ὁˑ δὲ ὄφιςˑ ἦνˑ φρονιμώτατοςˑ πάντωνˑ τῶνˑ θηρίωνˑ τῶνˑ ἐπὶ τῆςˑ γῆς,ˑ ὧνˑ ἐποίησενˑ Κύριοςˑ ὁˑ Θεός.ˑ καὶ εἶπενˑ ὁˑ ὄφιςˑ τῇˑ γυναικί·ˑ τίˑ ὅτι εἶπενˑ ὁˑ Θεός,ˑ οὐ μὴ φάγητεˑ ἀπὸ παντὸςˑ ξύλουˑ τοῦˑ ἐν τῷˑ παραδείσῳ;ˑ Latin @ Sed et serpens eratˑ callidior cunctis animantibus terræ quæ fecerat Dominusˑ Deus.ˑ Quiˑ dixitˑ ad mulierem: Cur præcepitˑ vobis Deusˑ ut non comederetis de omni ligno paradisi? English Traditional Now 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? Literal Now the serpent was more crafty than any animal of the field which the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'" You can also produce your own translation/paraphrase here.

Analysis

Words

crafty 

this is the first hint that we are talking about something supernatural. "Crafty" (Hebrew:עָרוּם) is only used of people. Snakes are well-suited and move incredibly (Proverbs 30:18), but not crafty.

LORD God 

Satan does not address God by His covenant name YHWH.

woman 

The devil tactfully chooses to go after someone other than the Covenant Mediator.

Phrases

now the serpent 

all one word in the Hebrew, this construction is rare and draws special attention to the noun. An equal translation would be "Behold! The Serpent!"

animal of the field 

already used in 2:20 as a name for all created beasts. Adam had reviewed all the kinds of creatures.

which the Lord GOD had made 

the serpent as vessel, indeed the Devil himself, did not arise by accident nor are their origins mysterious: God made all that is. Moreover, He did so knowing beforehand what their end would be.

you shall not eat 

subtly different from what God actually said - God spoke in the 2nd person singular, Satan speaks in the 2nd person plural. 2:16

of any tree 

in fact, God had only forbade one tree. 2:17

Concepts

Covenant Mediator 

The Lord made Adam first, and gave the instructions regarding eating to him. He is the one who was to bring God's instructions (Torah) to bear on future persons, serving as God's intermediary. By letting Satan go after Eve, Adam is abdicating  — SINNING  — right here in verse one of the chapter/pericope.

Reflections