Reading outline · Narrative
The garden and its loss
Genesis places the human in a garden to cultivate it. The command concerning the tree is part of this account of human life and responsibility.
This outline follows the main passages. Open each reading to follow the story in full.
In this outline
A garden and a command
Genesis places the human in a garden to cultivate it. The command concerning the tree is part of this account of human life and responsibility.
This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. No plant of the field was yet on the earth, and no herb of the field had …
Taking the fruit
The serpent questions the prohibition. The woman and man eat, then hide when they hear God in the garden.
Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from …
Outside the garden
The account ends with judgment, clothing and departure. Access to the tree of life is guarded.
The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go on your belly and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you …
Sources & reading notes
Introductions and explanations are editorial writing. Quoted text retains its named edition; selections may be shortened with an ellipsis.
A garden and a command. Editorial summary of the cited text; narrative setting is not independent historical confirmation. Source ↗
Taking the fruit. Editorial summary of the cited text; narrative setting is not independent historical confirmation. Source ↗
Outside the garden. Editorial summary of the cited text; narrative setting is not independent historical confirmation. Source ↗
Original scene outline
A garden and a command
Genesis places the human in a garden to cultivate it. The command concerning the tree is part of this account of human life and responsibility.
Taking the fruit
The serpent questions the prohibition. The woman and man eat, then hide when they hear God in the garden.
Outside the garden
The account ends with judgment, clothing and departure. Access to the tree of life is guarded.