Genesis 3:9 Commentary and Bible Study

God, of course, knew everything, and he did not ask for his own benefit, but to force Adam to explain himself. The questioning starts with Adam even though Eve was also with him, because it was the man who was created first and who even before the four had the primary responsibility within the marriage. It was Adam who was the head of the human race and it was him to whom the command had been given personally and who was responsible above even his wife. God held him primarily responsible for what had happened. The question, ‘Where art thou?’ Was spoken to awaken Adams conscience still more. God in effect asked him, ‘Why are you hiding from me?’ Those words tell Adam the futility of any attempt to hide from God. But now he is in the tragic position of being compelled to flee from the one he needed most of all.