The First Gospel: Genesis 3:15 and the Crushing of the Serpent
Scripture Focus:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
—Genesis 3:15 (NIV)
Introduction: The First Gospel
Genesis 3:15 is more than a curse pronounced on the serpent—it’s the first messianic prophecy in the Bible. Theologians call it the Protoevangelium, meaning “the first gospel”, because it introduces the idea of redemption immediately after the fall of man.
Even in judgment, God offers hope. As soon as sin enters the world, God promises a Savior who will ultimately defeat the enemy.
Breaking It Down: Word by Word
“I will put enmity between you and the woman…”
God is speaking directly to the serpent (Satan), declaring war between him and the woman—between evil and humanity. The word enmity implies hostility, conflict, and a deep divide. This is the beginning of the spiritual battle between good and evil, truth and deception, righteousness and sin.
“…and between your offspring and hers.”
This refers to two lines:
- The seed of the serpent—those who follow the devil’s lies and oppose God.
- The seed of the woman—ultimately pointing to Christ, who would be born of a woman, without a human father (virgin birth), making this a prophetic hint of the Messiah.
Paul affirms this in Galatians 4:4:
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman…”
“He will crush your head…”
This line is the climax. The “He” is a specific individual—Jesus Christ. Crushing the serpent’s head is symbolic of a decisive, fatal victory. This was fulfilled when Jesus defeated Satan through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.
Romans 16:20 says: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Hebrews 2:14: “…that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”
This “crushing” will reach its final fulfillment when Satan is thrown into the lake of fire in Revelation 20:10.
“…and you will strike his heel.”
Satan would succeed in wounding Christ—but only temporarily. The “heel strike” symbolizes the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus—a real blow, but not a permanent defeat.
Jesus would be wounded for our sins (Isaiah 53:5), but He would not remain in the grave. His resurrection turned the serpent’s attack into Satan’s own downfall.
Theological Significance
Genesis 3:15 introduces key themes that carry throughout Scripture:
- The Messianic Promise – A Savior would come from the seed of a woman.
- Spiritual Warfare – Humanity would forever face the struggle between God’s truth and Satan’s lies.
- Victory Through Suffering – Jesus would suffer, but His suffering would lead to triumph.
- Hope in Judgment – Even in the moment of mankind’s greatest failure, God gave a promise of redemption.
Application for Believers
- We’re part of the battle – There is real spiritual conflict between the serpent’s offspring (lies, sin, rebellion) and the offspring of the woman (those who follow Christ).
- Jesus has already won – The serpent’s head has been crushed. Satan is a defeated foe. Though we may feel the sting of his heel strikes, he no longer has the power to condemn us.
- We live with hope – From the first pages of Scripture, God’s plan of salvation has been clear: Jesus wins.
Conclusion: The Gospel Began in the Garden
Genesis 3:15 reminds us that God was never caught off guard by sin. Before the foundations of the world, the plan of redemption was already in place. Jesus is the promised seed who came, suffered, and triumphed—so that we might walk in victory.