BBC: Genesis 3:14-15

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” - Genesis 3:14-15

That the Lord turns to the enemy first is not to be ignored. It is imperative that one reads first the completion of "salvation history" before turning to the words of God against the man and the woman.

The first curse is to reduce the state of the serpent in the eyes of all creation. This is important. For future uses of this type of language are reserved for the enemies of God (Micah 7:17; Rom 16:20). Many times throughout the Bible, the language of serpents can be helpfully understood as linking back to this curse.

The second curse is beneficial to mankind. God restores our animosity against His enemy. God restores the order of creation. Though we are now fallen, the serpent, God's enemy, remains our enemy for those of us blessed by God's curse. The greatest fulfillment of this are Jesus Christ and the church (Rom 16:20).

*The Bible Blogging Commentary is a slow and simple treading of the Scriptures. No quotes from other theologians and no explicit Greek/Hebrew lessons.*