Bible Strands
Genesis 3:12
And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The man speaks to God immediately after God asks whether he has eaten from the forbidden tree. He responds by naming the woman God provided as the source of the fruit.
The words — The verb נָתַ֣תָּה (na.Ta.tah) literally means "you put" or "you gave," which the man uses to describe God's role in providing the woman. He repeats the root נָתַן (to give) when stating the woman gave him the fruit.
The thread — The man’s deflection of guilt echoes the pattern condemned in Job 31:33 and contrasts with the confession required in Proverbs 28:13. James 1:13 directly addresses this error by forbidding the attribution of temptation to God.
Why it lands — The text records a factual accusation that shifts responsibility rather than admitting fault. It demands the reader examine whether they attribute their actions to external causes instead of owning their choices.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
- James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
- Job 31:33 if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
- Romans 10:3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
- Genesis 2:18 The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
- 1 Samuel 15:20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.
- Proverbs 19:3 A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
- Luke 10:29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
- Genesis 2:20 The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
- Genesis 2:22 And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him.