The Meaning of Genesis 3:9 Explained

Genesis 3:9

KJV: And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

YLT: And Jehovah God calleth unto the man, and saith to him, 'Where art thou?'

Darby: And Jehovah Elohim called to Man, and said to him, Where art thou?

ASV: And Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  God  called  unto Adam,  and said  unto him, Where [art] thou? 

What does Genesis 3:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 3:9-21 - God's Condemnation Of Adam And Eve
God does not wait for Adam to find his own way back, but hastens in search of him. "Where art thou" is rendered in one version, Alas for thee. Jesus met the Tempter not in a garden, but in the wilderness. He suffered being tempted, but has become to all who obey Him a Life-giving Spirit, and the Author of Eternal Salvation. Read 1 Corinthians 15:45, and Hebrews 5:9. The penalty is gone, borne by Him in His own body on the Cross. So Paul affirms in Romans 5:14, etc. Our bias toward evil is counteracted by His indwelling through the Holy Spirit; so we are taught in Romans 8:1-4. He bruises Satan beneath the feet of those who trust Him. Such is His own assurance in Luke 10:19, and Mark 16:17. He transforms the other results of sin. Through pain the mother's love is drawn out to her child. Hard work is educative and ennobling. Death is the gate of life. Where sin abounded, grace abounds much more. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 3

1  The serpent deceives Eve
6  Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin
8  God arraigns them
14  The serpent is cursed
15  The promised seed
16  The punishment of mankind
21  Their first clothing
22  Their expulsion from paradise

What do the individual words in Genesis 3:9 mean?

And called Yahweh God to Adam and said to him where [are] you
וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־ הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ؟ אַיֶּֽכָּה

וַיִּקְרָ֛א  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הָֽאָדָ֑ם  Adam 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ל֖וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
؟ אַיֶּֽכָּה  where  [are]  you 
Parse: Interrogative, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵי  
Sense: where?, whence?.