Genesis 3:11
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Genesis 3:11
God’s question to Adam—“Who told thee that thou wast naked?”—is a diagnostic moment: where did the knowledge of nakedness and guilt come from? The verse points to an inherited sense of shame and the moral accountability of the person who introduced disobedience (the serpent) and the one who participated (Adam). It also begins the accusatory exchange that follows.
This verse emphasizes the origin of guilt and the necessity of personal responsibility before God. It also shows mercy by not immediately indicting Eve, but rather prompting self-examination in both. The broader theological theme is judgment coupled with grace: God identifies the problem, then invites repentance and sets up consequences and future redemption.
Take stock of where your sense of guilt or shame came from. Was it something you did, or something someone told you about yourself? Name the source and bring it before God. Practice self-examination with humility: what did you do, what are the consequences, and what steps will you take to repair relationships and align with God’s will? Seek accountability to prevent repeating patterns.
Cross-References: Romans 14:12; James 1:14-15; Ezekiel 18:20; Psalm 32:3-5