Keraia
Genesis 3

Genesis 3:15

The Fate of the Serpent · Genesis 3:14–15
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Translations

Modern
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And enmity I will put between you and between the woman, and between your seed and between her seed. He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.
Latin
Inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem, et semen tuum et semen illius: ipsa conteret caput tuum, et tu insidiaberis calcaneo ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Notes

Genesis 3:15

  • enmity: The prophet Isaiah looks ahead to a future when the Messiah's kingdom will restore all creation to peace, like the garden of Eden before humans disobeyed God (see Isaiah 11:8).

  • her seed (or offspring): This term can refer to a single descendant or many. In ancient Near Eastern culture, "you and your offspring" (see Genesis 28:14) describes a shared identity. Here, it describes ongoing hostility between humans and snakes.

    The pattern is set using singular terms (He … you). Christian interpreters have traditionally understood this verse to be a prophecy about Christ. He is the seed of Abraham and fulfills the promise of the woman's seed (see Galatians 3:16; 4:4).

  • strike: This refers to the suffering of God's servant (see Isaiah 53). Crushing the serpent's head is a more decisive action. The death, resurrection, and final victory of Jesus over Satan fulfill this promise (see 1 Corinthians 15:55–57; Revelation 12:7–9; 20:7–10).

Genesis 3:14–19

God judged the serpent, woman, and man because of their sin. Each received a punishment specific to their actions. Their important relationships changed. God is fair in judgment, not unpredictable. Each punishment matches the sin.

Genesis 3:1–24

When the man and woman rebelled against God, it disrupted their harmony with the earth, animals, each other, and God.

Events

Glossary

Adam (Person) Apocalyptic Armenian Gospel of the Infancy Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Book of Revelation Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Creation Myths Curse, Cursed Discipline Evil Fall of Man Fear Fellowship Foreknowledge Genesis, Book of Grace Judgment Land Leah Man Mesopotamia Messiah Monotheism Paradise Patriarchs, Period of the Promise Protevangelium Remnant Shem Snake Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Woman

Topics

Agency in Executing Judgments Curse: Denounced: Against Adam and Eve Curse: Denounced: Against the Serpent Eve: Messiah Promised To Fall of Man: General Scriptures Concerning God: Appearances of To Adam Jesus, the Christ: Death of Jesus, the Christ: Design of his Death Jesus, the Christ: Humanity of Jesus, the Christ: Incarnation of Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Seed of the Woman Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning the Coming of Judgments: On the Serpent Malice: General Scriptures Concerning Marriage: The Expectation of the Promised Seed of the Woman An Messiah Persecution of Jesus Predictions of the Future Prophecies Respecting Christ: As the Seed of the Woman Salvation: Announced After the Fall Satan: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Satan's Fall Serpent: Curse Upon Serpent: Satan Appears to Eve in the Form of Serpents: Man's Aversion and Hatred To Sin: Fruits of Snakes Temptation: Yielding to Adam and Eve The Devil: Triumph Over, by Christ: Predicted The Fall of Man: Remedy For, Provided by God The Human Nature of Christ was of the Seed of The Woman The Serpent War: The Devil Warfare of Saints is Against: The Devil Woman: Salvation Promised Through the Seed of Women: Fall of, and Curse Upon Women: Promise To