Did Eve Lie to satan?

Irv Everett Fri 15 Jan 2010, 6:32 pm

Did Eve Lie

I thought this might give us something to ponder. I have heard some different views on this subject and I thought that I would share mine. When talking to the serpent in the garden, did Eve take it upon herself to lie? As we know, God commands Adam not to eat of the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

And we know that Eve talks with the serpent and says “neither shall ye touch it”.

Genesis 3:2-3 And the woman said unto the serpent we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

But 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.

Was that a lie?

The scriptures indicate that Eve was not present at the time God gave Adam the command not to eat the forbidden fruit. She had not been created as yet.

Genesis 2:22 And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her unto the man.

And we know that man had not sinned as yet; sin did not enter into man until Adam ate of the forbidden fruit.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

So sin was not in Eve at the time she made her statement to the serpent. What do we know about Eve’s statement? We know that Eve had heard of the tree, it was the tree which is in the midst of the garden. We know that Eve knew of the tree’s proximity, it was in the midst of the garden. Do we know if she had seen the tree?

Genesis 3:6 And 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.

This scripture indicates that Eve had not seen the tree until Adam took her to it. “And when the woman saw” the key word being when; indicating that this was her first time to see the tree. This scripture also indicates this is the time that Adam ate the forbidden fruit bring sin upon man. We have to stay with what the scriptures are telling us and the indication is that Eve did not lie. She had no pattern of lying; she had no reason to lie, and since sin had not entered into man at the time of her statement, Eve told the serpent what she knew.

Now, God makes sure that we do not add to or take away from the scriptures.

Revelation 22:18 – 19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

So are we left only to speculate or to assume of Eve’s instruction, to divide it between Adam and God? No, we are not. The Bible records that God sets boundaries: from the foundation of the world Genesis 1:1- 2:3, to His word Deuteronomy 29:29; Revelation10:3,4, to salvation John 14:6,7; Acts 4:12, to worship John 4:24, to time Ecclesiastes 3:1-10, to parents Eph.6:4, to children Exodus 20:12.

My conclusion, Eve got her instruction from Adam. Adam told her of the tree and of its approximate location. I contend that during Adam’s instruction to Eve, he misrepresented God’s command. I defend this rationality with this thought; according to the scriptures Titus 1:1-2, Number 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 6:18, God can not lie; if God had given Eve the command “not to touch the fruit” then sin would have fallen upon man as soon as Eve touched the fruit. We already know that sin did not fall upon man until Adam ate of the fruit. I attend; that when Eve was speaking to the serpent; she did not lie.

palmtree Fri 15 Jan 2010, 6:46 pm

Irv wrote:My conclusion, Eve got her instruction from Adam. Adam told her of the tree and of its approximate location. I contend that during Adam’s instruction to Eve, he misrepresented God’s command. I defend this rationality with this thought; according to the scriptures Titus 1:1-2, Number 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 6:18, God can not lie; if God had given Eve the command “not to touch the fruit” then sin would have fallen upon man as soon as Eve touched the fruit. We already know that sin did not fall upon man until Adam ate of the fruit. I attend; that when Eve was speaking to the serpent; she did not lie.

Very nice rationale and it sound logical, and I agree to your conclusion that Eve did not lie but surely she added to the words of God.

blessed Sat 16 Jan 2010, 2:03 pm

Genesis 2:17
God commands Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam received that commandment before the creation of Eve. He KNEW what tree and he KNEW what the fruit looked like before the creation of the woman.

Genesis 2:21-22
Eve is created. Adam names her. He was first of creation. He was the first to receive the commandment about what to eat and what NOT to eat.

In this story, we read that Eve listens to the lie of Satan and believes him. The verses state that she took the fruit and ate it and gave some to her husband (WHO WAS WITH HER) verse 6.

Adam watches and listens as the serpent deceived Eve but said nothing. The interesting thing to notice is that Adam was given the commandment before the creation of Eve. He knew she was being deceived and he knew God's commandment. Remember verse 2:17? He KNEW what the fruit he was not suppose to eat looked like.

Many believe that Adam was right there next to her listening and watching everything the serpent said. Even if we do not think he was actually with her, remember he was created first and received the commandment before she was created. He KNEW which tree and he KNEW what the fruit looked like. Being he KNEW what the fruit looked like, why did he take and eat when she gave it to him?

The prevailing thought has always been that Eve deceived Adam, but I see nothing in these scripture that shows Eve and Adam having any kind of conversation about the fruit.

Both believed the lie of Satan, both ate the fruit willingly. Still today people blame others for their own disobedience to God's word. They do what they know they should not and then try to find an escape clause by blaming Satan, or other persons. It didn't work for Adam and Eve, and it will not work for us today.

Conclusion
Even if Eve lied, so was Adam a part of it as he was with Eve.

Thank you Irv for opening up such an interesting topic.

heavenbound Sat 16 Jan 2010, 2:18 pm

Romans 5:18. Eve was tempted to doubt the Lord, and with the same sin of pride that caused Satan to fall. This included an improper desire for authority, and wisdom. Genesis 3:1-6.

Eve was tempted to doubt and not to lie.

LivinginChrist Sun 17 Jan 2010, 5:32 pm

I believe that Eve did not lie but was entrapped into the wickedness of satan. He convinced her that tree was pleasing and the fruit was good to eat. She fell to the trap of satan.

warrior4christ Sun 17 Jan 2010, 5:40 pm

The answer is pretty tough and the discussion is not only interesting but also thought provoking. As we agree that Eve did add to the words of God and the words of God were not spoken to her directly, then she lied to satan. How can we say that she did not lie when she clearly added words to the words of God. If it not a lie then what would we call this then?

FaithfulSon Mon 18 Jan 2010, 5:25 pm

It does not matter who said what, because both sinned and were damned. I think this is the right answer.

**Waqar Daniel** Tue 19 Jan 2010, 7:25 pm

The interesting point for me in this story is: why did satan go to Eve and ask her the question? He could have asked Adam the same question as he was caretaker of the garden and the command was given to him directly from God regarding the tree. The key to understand this mystery lies in;

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me" For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desires, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown. gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)

Eve had a desire to eat of that tree, and she was led in to gossip by satan, whereby she added words to the command of God. As the verse says, she was tempted by satan by her own evil desires and she was dragged away and enticed in her own lust to seek equality with God.

She did not eat that fruit by accident or in ignorance or in innocence but she knew what she was doing. She ate the fruit to seek equality with God

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and DESIRABLE for gaining wisdom...(Genesis 3:6)

Therefore all the words uttered by Eve regarding the tree, were her own creation due to the desire to become equal to God.

Satan knew what was in Eve's heart and used the same thought as a bait. He told Eve

"You will not surely die." the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4)

So in my opinion, Eve lied and sinned because her desire was so. She fell prey to satan because sin was in her heart and her sin was that she sought equality with God.

Irv Everett Thu 21 Jan 2010, 3:46 pm

Genesis 3:1-6 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?

And the woman said unto the serpent we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

But 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.

And the serpent said unto the woman. Ye shall not surely die.

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

And 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.

The definition of a lie is to state something that one knows to be false; Eve stated what she believed to be the truth from Adam’s flawed interpretation of God’s command. Yes, I believe the serpent caused her to doubt God’s instruction (v4-5), how every flawed it was. And I can believe that she was over come when she saw the tree (v6); but I do not believe in (v2-3) Eve was inclined to blatantly lie.

The scriptures (v1-5) indicate; Eve was alone at the time of her conversation with the serpent. The serpent asks Eve (v1) yea hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Eve explains to the serpent (v3) 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.

By her reply; Eve and the serpent are not “in the midst of the garden” where the tree is located. And if Adam is supposed to be with them at the tree, why would Eve tell the serpent of the trees location?

The scriptures do not tell us how much time passed between the ending of Eve’s conversation with the serpent in (v1-5) and her being with Adam in (v6), but now Adam and Eve are at the tree.

There has been mention of Eve adding to God’s word and the consequences of this action. I wanted to show some scripture here and ask a question. Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Deuteronomy 28:58; Joshua 1:7-8; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Acts 20:27; Acts 26:22

Revelation 22:18 – 19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Is everything in the Bible after Deuteronomy 4:2 adding to the God’s word?

**Waqar Daniel** Sun 24 Jan 2010, 9:51 am

Dear Irv, this is an academic discussion and no way I am arguing with you or contradicting you. However, I am not discussing who added what to the Word of God. I am just putting a verse from the Bible as basis of Eve's sin.

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me" For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desires, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown. gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)

My question is simple, the command was given to Adam, but satan tested Eve. If we put James 1:13-15 as basis of our discussion, then Eve had the desire to eat of the fruit.

Irv wrote:The definition of a lie is to state something that one knows to be false...

I agree with you here with meaning of the word "lie", however, at the same time, didn't satan know that Eve was lying?

Satan might not outwit us. For we are not aware of his scheme (2 Cor 2:11)

Therefore, I believe that neither Eve was misled by Adam, and neither she sinned in ignorance. She believed that if she ate of that tree, irrespective of the location or time span, she would be like God. Satan simply put forth her desire and she fell prey to her desire.

God bless you and your family

Irv Everett Mon 25 Jan 2010, 5:57 pm

My questions were not intended for argument or contradiction, but merely speculation for a discussion. I am in no way a scholar of the scriptures but looking at them in a different light could be very beneficial. Most of us were brought up believing the same way of our parents and them their parents and so on. And I pondered; could this cause a misinterpretation of the scriptures? Now I’m not saying that God’s people deliberately twist the scriptures but we are limited to our understanding of them. The intent was purely for my education. Your comments have prompted me to look more diligently into what God is telling me. Blessing to each of you that have helped with my education of these scriptures.

**Waqar Daniel** Mon 25 Jan 2010, 7:45 pm

Dear Irv

Thank you for such an interesting discussion. I agree with you that we must ponder over verses, however, I also believe that we must pray before exploring a verse and God has guided me many times and I am thankful to God for His blessings and favors.

I would be waiting for some interesting input on different verses.

God bless you and your family