Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Adam mean when he says 'the woman whom You gave to be with me' in Genesis 3:12?
A: According to Rashi, Adam was improperly shifting blame—first to Chava (Eve) and even subtly to Hashem for giving her to him. Instead of taking responsibility, he implied that if Hashem hadn't given him this companion, he wouldn't have sinned. This teaches the importance of owning up to one's mistakes rather than blaming others.
Q: Why is Adam's response in Genesis 3:12 considered wrong?
A: The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 5b) and Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 1:1) emphasize that true repentance requires admitting one's error without excuses. Adam failed this test by blaming Chava and hinting at Hashem's role in creating the situation. This verse becomes a lesson in personal accountability in Jewish thought.
Q: How does Genesis 3:12 relate to relationships between husbands and wives?
A: The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 19:12) notes that Adam's words created discord by publicly shaming his wife. Jewish tradition (as codified in Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer) teaches that spouses must protect each other's dignity—even when one errs—unlike Adam who exposed Chava's mistake while deflecting from his own.
Q: What practical lesson can we learn today from Adam's words in Genesis 3:12?
A: The Orchot Tzaddikim (Gate of Repentance) uses this verse to teach that when we err, we must avoid Adam's three mistakes: 1) Blaming others, 2) Not confessing fully, and 3) Speaking disrespectfully about those who influenced us. This applies to all interpersonal relationships and our relationship with Hashem.
Q: Why does the Torah include Adam's exact words in Genesis 3:12?
A: Ramban explains that the Torah records this dialogue to show human nature's tendency toward self-justification. By preserving Adam's flawed response, the Torah gives us an eternal mirror to recognize and correct similar behavior in ourselves, as emphasized in mussar (Jewish ethical) works like Mesillat Yesharim.
Adam's Response to Hashem
The verse (Bereishit 3:12) records Adam's response when Hashem confronts him about eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Rashi explains that Adam's statement contains three layers of deflection:
Spiritual Implications
The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 5:1) teaches that a key element of repentance is acknowledging one's own responsibility. Adam's response demonstrates the opposite - a failure to take full accountability for his actions. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 19:12) notes that this pattern of blaming others began humanity's tendency toward rationalization of sins.
Linguistic Analysis
The Kli Yakar highlights the grammatical structure: Adam mentions Hashem ("You did give") before mentioning Chava's role, suggesting he viewed the entire situation as Divinely orchestrated for his failure. This reflects a distorted understanding of free will versus Divine providence.
Contrast with Later Repentance
The Malbim contrasts this with David HaMelech's response in Tehillim 51:6 ("Against You alone have I sinned"), which models proper acceptance of responsibility. Adam's approach here becomes a negative example of how not to respond when confronted with wrongdoing.