Genesis 3:14-15 Commentary
THOMAS SCOTT COMMENTARY
Verses 14-15. It is probable that the serpent was previously beautiful and innoxious; but it now assumed the reptile form, and became mischievous and hateful. From that season, serpents have been more shunned, and persecuted unto death, as enemies to the human race, than almost any other animal. By the venomous bite of many of them they have often severely avenged themselves; and, by reason of their proneness on the earth, they eat their food mingled with dust. Thus the words may imply a visible punishment, to be executed on the serpent as the instrument in this temptation: But the curse was in reality directed against the invisible tempter; whose abject degraded condition, and base endeavours to find satisfaction in rendering others wicked and miserable, might be figuratively intimated by the serpent’s moving on his belly, and feeding on the dust. Yet his curse upon Satan contains the sum of all the blessings which a merciful God bestows on sinful man! It is a prophecy and a promise which have ever since been fulfilling, but have not yet received their entire accomplishment. It comprises the whole Gospel, and a prophetical history of the opposition which it should meet, and the success with which it should be crowned, in all ages and countries to the end of time. Christ Himself is “the Seed of the woman,” as the most illustrious of the human race. He is called the Seed of the woman, and not the seed of Adam, though descended from both; not only because Satan had prevailed first against the woman, but likewise with an evident prophetical intimation of His miraculous conception and birth of a pure virgin. Maimonides, an eminent Jewish writer, says, ‘This is one of the passages in Scripture which is most wonderful, and not to be understood according to the letter; but contains great wisdom in it.’ ‘In which words he wrote more truth than he was aware, but was not able to unfold this hidden wisdom, as we Christians, blessed be God, are able to do.’—Bp. Patrick. But in Christ all His genuine disciples are included as members of His mystical body.—The devil, his angels, and wicked men, are the serpent and his seed: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the works of your father ye will do.” God himself hath put enmity between these two contending parties: for the effect of his grace, in the heart of true Christians, is enmity, not against the persons of sinners, but against their character, the image of Satan which they bear, and the cause of Satan which they favour; for “that mind is in believers which was in Christ,” “who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.” Their character and conduct also, the opposition which they make, and the testimony which they bear, against the wickedness of the world, as well as the success which the Lord grants them, excite the rage, envy, and malice of Satan and his servants; whose pride they affront, whose consciences they disturb, whose real characters they detect, and whose iniquity they oppose. (Marg. Ref.) Hence Satan and his seed, by open violence and cruel persecutions, by secret machinations and base slanders, by artful temptations and pernicious heresies, fight against the “Seed of the woman.” In doing this, they “bruise his heel.” They once crucified the “Lord of Glory” Himself; they have massacred, perhaps, millions of His disciples, and by yet this is no mortal wound, for it does not hinder the final glorification of the whole multitude, who thus in succession have “Satan bruised under their feet.”—“The seed of the woman,” fighting under the Redeemer’s standard, by the doctrine of truth, and the armour of righteousness, accompanied with prayers and patience, hatred of sin, and compassion for sinners, carry on their benevolent war; and they gain most illustrious victories, when the power of Satan is broken, and his deluded servants are converted unto Christ. But their victories are the fruit of his severe conflict, and glorious triumph over the tempter, especially upon the cross: where, in human nature, giving himself a ransom for sinners, he broke the whole force of Stan’s usurped empire: and now, risen from the dead, and having “all power in heaven and earth” vested in him, he is continually employed in crushing the serpents head: yet in measure and order, “according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Eph 1:11.) Already, by his apostles and ministers, He hath shaken the very foundations of Satan’s kingdom, and rescued millions of his wretched captives: but ere long He will, even on earth, gain a more decisive victory: and at last, setting his foot, as it were, on this serpent’s head, He will entirely crush his interest, deprive him of all power to do further mischief and execute condign punishment on all his seed (Marg. Ref. 8).—From this short explication we perceive, that the person, sufferings, glory, and triumphs of the Redeemer; the character, tribulations, and felicity of the redeemed; the temporary success and final ruin of all the enemies of Christ and His people: and indeed almost the whole history of the church and of the world, through time and to eternity, are compendiously delineated in this singular verse; which stands, and will stand to the end of time, an eternal demonstration that the Scripture was given by inspiration from God.—Satan’s cause would be ruined by one in a nature inferior to his own; by one emphatically called the “seed of the woman,” over whom the tempter had triumphed; and the victory over the enemy would be obtained, not only by the Messiah, but by all his servant (Note, Ex 8:16.)—It is remarkable, that this gracious promise of a Savior was given unsolicited, and previous to any humiliation on the part of man. Without a revelation of mercy, inspiring hope of forgiveness, the convinced sinner would be hardened in despair. This intimation therefore formed that encouragement to hope, which was followed by true repentance and true religion (as it is generally supposed), in fallen Adam and Eve; and though it was at first very obscure, it continually became brighter, like the increasing light of the morning, till “the Sun of righteousness arose with healing in His wings.”
THOMAS HAWEIS COMMENTARY
Verses 14-15: The criminals, convicted, sentence must pass; and it begins with the tempter, whose crime was most notorious, and whose judgment the most severe.
The curse of God, intolerable, and endless is his doom.
The serpent, though but the instrument must suffer. God will show his displeasure against sin, wherever it appears. He was more subtle than any other beast, and now is most accursed. Note, The heaviest wrath of God will light upon their heads, who have employed the acutest geniuses in the service of the devil, against the revealed truths of God. He is condemned to lick the dust, to crawl under every foot, and to fill the last and lowest place: and withal, to suffer perpetual war as hated of man, crushed by him, wherever he should be found. And though his envenomed sting would still mark his first malice, and bite the heel which trode on him, yet his head should be bruised, and death be his portion. Mark the end of companions in iniquity; deadly hatred quickly succeeds the most cordial union.
But the chief edge of this sword of judgment is leveled against him who spoke in the serpent. He is doomed, 1. To be degraded, detested, and abhorred for ever: he was cast from the height of heaven before; now he sinks still lower. As this hath filled the measure of his iniquities, it fills the measure of his punishment, humbled, to be trodden down by those whom he deceived; to be bruised under their feet, over whom he had triumphed; and to be the object of the eternal hate, of those whose friendship he had abused. Sooner or later, pride will have a fall.
2. A perpetual enmity is put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent; with a certain expectation of his ruin in the conflict. Note, (1.) The believer’s heart, in this world, partakes of both these seeds; and the war of corrupt affections and Satan’s temptations continues till death; yet grace shall win the wounded heel prove mortal to the body, we shall, through Jesus, shortly triumph over death, and him who hath the power of it. (2.) This world will be a divided world, where the people of God must meet with many a sore thrust from Satan’s seed, the ungodly set on fire of hell; but may we ever remember for our comfort, the triumphing of the wicked is but for a moment.
But what to Satan was so full of horror and despair, like the pillar of the cloud between Israel and the Egyptians, offered a bright beam of hope to fallen man. He heard the assured promise of a seed, who should bruise the serpent’s head; and however his apprehension of the person might be indistinct, yet it afforded him a ground of faith and hope. We now are assured, that this seed was Christ; and need not doubt but the gospel preached unto him in this first promise, was as effectual as to the other patriarchs, before his appearance in the flesh. Note, If Christianity be not full as old as the creation, it is almost as old.
Christ is called the woman’s seed, as being in the fullness of time to be born of her, and of woman only. Let it be remembered for the woman’s comfort and honor, if she was the first to bring sin into the world, she hath also born him who will make an end of sin, and take it out of the world. His heel being bruised, represents the sufferings of his humanity, when taking away sin by the sacrifices of himself: but his wound is Satan’s ruin. The nail, which fastened the crucified Savior’s feet, smote him, like Sisera, through the temples; his power and kingdom are destroyed, and his wiles for ever frustrated. The redeemed of the Lord are rescued; that wicked one toucheth them not. Though he thrusts still out his forked tongue, the agonies of death, as it were, are upon him: the spreading gospel of Jesus continues to complete the conquest, and it will be in a little while perfected; when Satan shall be bruised under our feet, and death and hell be cast into the lake of fire. Thou promised seed, fulfill, and that soon, thy people’s hope!
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