Is the First Prophetic Mention of the Messiah Found in Genesis 3:15?
The first reference to or promise of the Messiah is believed to be found in the Bible as early as in the Book of Genesis, who was written by Moses as the inspired Word of God. Specifically in Genesis (3:15), "the serpent" tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and commit the first sin of the world. This symbolic verse has more to say than its literal meaning, and specifically it has a prediction for the future of mankind. After Eve disobeyed the commandment and took the forbidden fruit to eat and gave some to Adam, God tells the serpent:
...And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers;
he will crush[b] your head,
and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
The serpent can symbolically be seen as the "enemy of God," which would include not just Satan, but all forces and individuals that are against God and God's plan for the world. The serpent is a servant of Satan, who is referenced with the "the serpent" several times later in the Bible, leaving little doubt that this is the intended reference. Enmity is defined as hostility or hatred.
The woman in this passage refers to Eve, and "her offspring" symbolically refers to Jesus Christ and future children and peoples who are with God, or all future inhabitants of the world who follow God. Other Bible versions use the term "seed" instead of offspring and regardless of which is used, the symbolic meaning is the same. "Your offspring" in the verse refers to the offspring of the serpent who are against God.
Therefore, Genesis 3:15 references the first division on Earth between the forces of Good and Evil, which came directly after the occurrence of the first sin and disobedience to God's word. "He" is a reference to "her offspring or seed," which symbolizes the coming Messiah Jesus Christ who will crush the head of the serpent and the forces of evil, while the serpent will "strike his heel" on the Cross at the Crucifiction.
God through Jesus Christ will ultimately destroy Satan and evil, which is symbolically mentioned as "he will crush your head." Therefore, in this first prophetic verse in the Bible, we have a prediction of the future and a summary of God's future plan for the world after the first sin. There will be hatred between good and evil, but God will send the Messiah to save all faithful believers and to destroy Satan including all of those who are against God.
...And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers;
he will crush[b] your head,
and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
The serpent can symbolically be seen as the "enemy of God," which would include not just Satan, but all forces and individuals that are against God and God's plan for the world. The serpent is a servant of Satan, who is referenced with the "the serpent" several times later in the Bible, leaving little doubt that this is the intended reference. Enmity is defined as hostility or hatred.
The woman in this passage refers to Eve, and "her offspring" symbolically refers to Jesus Christ and future children and peoples who are with God, or all future inhabitants of the world who follow God. Other Bible versions use the term "seed" instead of offspring and regardless of which is used, the symbolic meaning is the same. "Your offspring" in the verse refers to the offspring of the serpent who are against God.
Therefore, Genesis 3:15 references the first division on Earth between the forces of Good and Evil, which came directly after the occurrence of the first sin and disobedience to God's word. "He" is a reference to "her offspring or seed," which symbolizes the coming Messiah Jesus Christ who will crush the head of the serpent and the forces of evil, while the serpent will "strike his heel" on the Cross at the Crucifiction.
God through Jesus Christ will ultimately destroy Satan and evil, which is symbolically mentioned as "he will crush your head." Therefore, in this first prophetic verse in the Bible, we have a prediction of the future and a summary of God's future plan for the world after the first sin. There will be hatred between good and evil, but God will send the Messiah to save all faithful believers and to destroy Satan including all of those who are against God.
