Genesis 3:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In a similar way, when Adam and Eve became unworthy of their glorious attire that had met their physical needs, God compassionately stripped them of their former glory but, in His mercy, sought to cover their shame by creating leather garments for them.

Such is the ploy of the adversary: he entices those who yield to him with fleeting pleasures, leading them into depths of depravity, shrouding them in dishonor while exposing them to the derision of others. Yet, the Shepherd of our souls, recognizing their helplessness, does not abandon them. Instead, He devises coverings for them, using their humble garments to illustrate the dignity they lost. "And the Lord God made Adam and his wife garments of leather, and clothed them." Observe how the divine narrative accommodates human understanding. It is crucial to interpret these events with divine significance, and the word "did" should be understood as "commanded." He instructed them to wear leather robes as a constant reminder of their disobedience.

Let those rich in fine garments take heed; they should realize how the benevolent Master has illuminated human nature from the beginning. Although humanity faced the penalty of death due to the transgression of God's command, it was necessary for Him to provide them with a garment to conceal their shame. Thus, He fashioned leather garments, teaching us to eschew a life of indulgence and rather to embrace discipline and hardship. Yet, those caught in material excess may object, asking what it means to adorn ourselves in leather. I do not impose this requirement, for the first humans did not wear these garments eternally; the merciful Lord continually bestows further blessings upon the initial ones.

After mankind fell from a state of angelic existence and became subject to physical needs, God subsequently allowed clothing made from sheep's wool to serve merely as a covering, so that humanity would not live like the unembellished creatures devoid of shame. Therefore, our clothing should serve as a perpetual reminder of the blessings we forfeited and the consequences of our disobedience.

Let those enamored with opulence respond: how can you don such expensive fabrics and incorporate gold into your attire while disregarding that this covering is a substitute for the true punishment due to transgression? Why do you ignore the counsel of the apostle Paul, who teaches, "Having food and clothing, let us be content with these things" (1 Tim. 6:8)? It becomes apparent that our sole concern should be to ensure our bodies are clothed, focusing not on the extravagance of our garments.

Does this imply that God sacrificed oxen or sheep, instituted the practice of skinning them, and developed the art of tanning? To this, we reply: God formed all animals without conjunction or procreation. He created that which did not previously exist, and He is capable of creating entire beings without needing parts from existing creatures. Moreover, the objection arises that God has never created a component of an animal and has never made anything defective. The objector inquires about the source of the skin. I, too, question: how did God transform the Nile's waters into blood without killing any creatures? The river turned to blood, yet no animal was harmed. Similarly, the skins emerged, prompting curiosity about their origin. The skin came forth alongside the animal. Although both my voice and I may grow weary, let this suffice for now.

After forsaking their original state of innocence, Adam and Eve brought upon themselves the garments of mortality. The true dignity of humanity lies in being the reflection and likeness of God, and this divine image is maintained solely in connection to the Source from which it originates. Therefore, the closer one is to God, the less one prioritizes self. Yet man, in his desire to grasp his own autonomy, drew inward as if pulled by his own gravity. Aspiring to be like God, beyond the influence of anyone, he was consequently removed from his rightful center and relegated to the lowest state—sharing a fate akin to that of creatures. Though elevated in status, human beings failed to comprehend this reality, thus becoming akin to irrational animals and losing their true essence.

Similarly, when we remove this earthly and corrupt covering—symbolizing the exterior formed from the lifeless essence that we have adopted through our passions—we will cast off all that belongs to this lifeless exterior. From this unreasonable nature, we have inherited experiences such as physical union, conception, procreation, impurity, nurturing, sustenance, development, flowering into maturity, decline, illness, and death.

Instead, we should be satisfied with the text as it stands, acknowledge that nothing is beyond the capability of the Creator, and marvel at His boundless mercy, for He cares for those who have sinned and does not leave the vulnerable without covering.

To dry up the sea by mere command, and lead six hundred thousand individuals, along with women and children, across with feet unwashed - or by command to cover the needy with garments? To split the unhewn rock and allow water to flow - or to provide clothing for the exposed? To alter the course of the Jordan River and guide people - or to clothe the unclothed? To breathe life into ashes and animate - or to clothe the being of intellect that emerged from them?

It would not be unusual to refer to garments made from bark or plants as leather, but the closest interpretation of this term points towards garments made from animal hides. Since the need for such clothing indicates the beginning state of the current human condition, and since Moses often describes the tangible, which he refers to as the observable, the phrase “God made Adam and his wife leather garments” suggests that God provided fallen humanity with a flesh resembling that of cattle. The act of God clothing humans underlines His Providence and compassion for sinners. The same confusion that drove them to seek coverings hindered them from crafting sufficient and perfect garments; God enhances their efforts to ensure these coverings serve as protection against shame and external threats to the body. The attire devised by sinners stands as a reminder of sin as dreadful as nakedness itself. However, God, in His mercy, transforms it into a testament of His care for them. Why does God draw upon animal skins for clothing rather than plant materials? How could man, unfamiliar with the notion of death, wear the skin of slain creatures without revulsion? These questions may be resolved with the understanding that God once instructed man on how to offer animal sacrifices and utilize their hides for clothing, signaling to him the need to vanquish within himself animalistic desires and passions. This would also keep before him the future sacrifice of the victorious seed of the woman, allowing him to be clothed by faith in its merits and strength. This perspective also clarifies the roots of bloody sacrifices already made by Adam’s descendants (Gen. 4:4), which were certainly not of their own devising, and highlights the origin of the law that grants the priest the skin of the burnt-offering (Lev. 7:8).

Sin introduced afflictions and ailments to our forebears' previously resilient and pain-free nature, rendering clothing essential for protection against cold, moisture, and heat. The material from which their garments were fashioned holds great significance. Although God could have supplied them with attire made from various other materials, He specifically chose that which required the shedding of the blood of innocent creatures. This selection may be seen as a means for the Lord to instruct humanity not only in the practice of attire but also in the necessity of atonement through animal sacrifices to seek His favor.