Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was Adam afraid when he heard Hashem's voice in the garden?
A: According to Rashi, Adam was afraid because he had sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge and suddenly became aware of his nakedness. His fear stemmed from the realization that he had disobeyed Hashem's commandment, making him feel vulnerable and ashamed.
Q: What does it mean that Adam 'hid' from Hashem?
A: The Midrash explains that Adam's attempt to hide symbolizes how sin creates distance between a person and Hashem. Even though one cannot physically hide from the Divine Presence, the shame of wrongdoing makes a person feel spiritually distant, as if hiding. This teaches us that teshuva (repentance) is necessary to restore closeness to Hashem.
Q: Why did Adam mention being naked when explaining why he hid?
A: The Rambam teaches that before eating from the Tree, Adam and Chava were unaware of physical desires and lived purely with intellectual awareness of right and wrong. After eating, they became conscious of physicality (symbolized by nakedness), which brought shame. This verse highlights how sin distorts human perception and introduces moral confusion.
Q: How does this verse apply to us today?
A: The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 5a) derives from this verse that a person should always be mindful of their actions, as wrongdoing creates spiritual fear and separation. Just as Adam's awareness led him to hide, we must recognize our mistakes and actively seek teshuva instead of avoiding responsibility. This teaches the importance of accountability in our relationship with Hashem.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Adam saying 'I heard Your voice'?
A: The Sforno explains that Adam initially had a direct connection with Hashem's presence in Gan Eden. His admission shows that even after sinning, he acknowledged hearing Hashem—teaching that divine communication remains possible if we repent. This underscores the Jewish belief that Hashem always calls us to return, no matter how far we've strayed.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Bereshit 3:10) explains that Adam's fear stemmed from his newfound awareness of his nakedness after eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Before the sin, Adam was unaware of his physical state, as his focus was purely spiritual. The "voice" he heard was the Divine Presence (Shechinah) moving through the garden, which now caused him fear due to his diminished spiritual state.
Rambam's Perspective
In Moreh Nevuchim (1:2), Rambam interprets this verse as describing Adam's transition from intellectual perfection to being governed by base desires. His "nakedness" represents his loss of pure intellect, causing him to fear the Divine voice that once brought him clarity. The hiding symbolizes his spiritual retreat from direct communion with Hashem.
Talmudic Insight
The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 5b) connects this verse to the concept of busha (shame) entering the world after the sin. Adam's statement "I was afraid because I was naked" reflects how shame became part of human nature after the transgression, fundamentally changing mankind's relationship with the Divine.
Midrashic Interpretation
Maharal's Commentary
The Maharal (Gur Aryeh on Bereshit 3:10) emphasizes that Adam's fear was not merely of punishment, but of the existential awareness of his mortality. His nakedness represented vulnerability, causing him to withdraw from direct Divine encounter.
Chassidic Perspective
The Tanya (Likutei Amarim ch. 1) uses this verse to illustrate how the soul's natural inclination toward G-d becomes obscured by physicality after the sin. The hiding represents how the Divine soul becomes concealed within the body's material desires.