CFM Corner

The Fall: Two Witnesses Side-by-Side

Genesis 3–4 & Moses 4–5 | Come Follow Me Week 04
Genesis text
Moses text (unique sections)
No parallel in this account
Highlighted text = Unique wording between versions, color-coded by theme:
Satan/Serpent Identity
Divine Voice ("I, the Lord God")
Redemption/Gospel/Christ
Consequences/Agency
Clarifying Details
Secret Combinations

Pre-Fall Context: Satan's Origin (Moses 4:1-4)

Genesis
Moses 4:1-4
No parallel — Genesis begins with the serpent in the garden
Moses 4:1
1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.
Moses 4:2
2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
Moses 4:3
3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;
Moses 4:4
4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.

Key Restoration

These four verses are entirely unique to Moses. Genesis provides no backstory about Satan's identity, his premortal rebellion, or his motivation to destroy human agency.

The Serpent & The Temptation

Genesis 3:1-5 BLB
Moses 4:5-11
Genesis 3:1
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Moses 4:5
5 And now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which I, the Lord God, had made.
Moses 4:6
6 And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had drawn away many after him,) and he sought also to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world.
Moses 4:7
7 And he said unto the woman: Yea, hath God said—Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (And he spake by the mouth of the serpent.)
Genesis 3:2-3
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Moses 4:8-9
8 And the woman said unto the serpent: We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; 9 But of the fruit of the tree which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hath said—Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:4-5
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Moses 4:10-11
10 And the serpent said unto the woman: Ye shall not surely die; 11 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Key Differences: Moses 4:6 reveals Satan "put it into the heart of the serpent" and "knew not the mind of God." Moses 4:7 adds "he spake by the mouth of the serpent." These explain who was really speaking—information Genesis does not provide.

The Fall: The Choice & Awakening

Genesis 3:6-13 BLB
Moses 4:12-19
Genesis 3:6
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Moses 4:12
12 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat.
Genesis 3:7
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Moses 4:13
13 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they had been naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.
Genesis 3:8
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Moses 4:14
14 And they heard the voice of the Lord God, as they were walking in the garden, in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife went to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:9
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Moses 4:15
15 And I, the Lord God, called unto Adam, and said unto him: Where goest thou?
Genesis 3:10
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Moses 4:16
16 And he said: I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I beheld that I was naked, and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:11
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Moses 4:17
17 And I, the Lord God, said unto Adam: Who told thee thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat, if so thou shouldst surely die?
Genesis 3:12
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Moses 4:18
18 And the man said: The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat.
Genesis 3:13
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Moses 4:19
19 And I, the Lord God, said unto the woman: What is this thing which thou hast done? And the woman said: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Key Addition (Moses 4:18): Adam says God "commandest that she should remain with me"—a commandment not mentioned in Genesis. This reframes Adam's choice: he stayed with Eve because God commanded it, not merely because he preferred her company.

The Consequences: Curses & Promises

Genesis 3:14-19 BLB
Moses 4:20-25
To the Serpent
Genesis 3:14
14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Moses 4:20
20 And I, the Lord God, said unto the serpent: Because thou hast done this thou shalt be cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life;
Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Moses 4:21
21 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
To the Woman
Genesis 3:16
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Moses 4:22
22 Unto the woman, I, the Lord God, said: I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
To Adam
Genesis 3:17
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Moses 4:23
23 And unto Adam, I, the Lord God, said: Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the fruit of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying—Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed shall be the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.
Genesis 3:18
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Moses 4:24
24 Thorns also, and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
Genesis 3:19
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Moses 4:25
25 By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou shalt return unto the ground—for thou shalt surely die—for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou wast, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The Protoevangelium (First Gospel)

Genesis 3:15 says "it shall bruise thy head" while Moses 4:21 says "he shall bruise thy head"—clarifying this is a person (Christ), not just an abstract "seed." This is the first prophecy of the Savior.

Expulsion from Eden

Genesis 3:20-24 BLB
Moses 4:26-32
Genesis 3:20
20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Moses 4:26
26 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living; for thus have I, the Lord God, called the first of all women, which are many.
Genesis 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Moses 4:27
27 Unto Adam, and also unto his wife, did I, the Lord God, make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:22
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Moses 4:28
28 And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten: Behold, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil; and now lest he put forth his hand and partake also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever,
Genesis 3:23
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Moses 4:29
29 Therefore I, the Lord God, will send him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken;
Moses 4:30
30 For as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for as they go forth out of my mouth they must be fulfilled.
Genesis 3:24
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Moses 4:31
31 So I drove out the man, and I placed at the east of the Garden of Eden, cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.
Moses 4:32
32 (And these are the words which I spake unto my servant Moses, and they are true even as I will; and I have spoken them unto you. See thou show them unto no man, until I command you, except to them that believe. Amen.)
Key Differences: Moses 4:28 adds "unto mine Only Begotten"—Christ is present. Moses 4:30 is entirely unique: God's words "cannot return void." Moses 4:32 is a colophon explaining the text's origin and sacred nature.

Life After Eden: The Gospel Restored (Moses 5:1-15)

Genesis 4:1-2 BLB
Moses 5:1-15
Genesis 4 skips directly to Cain and Abel. All 15 verses of Moses 5:1-15 are unique restoration with no parallel in Genesis.
Moses 5:1
1 And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him.
Moses 5:2-3
2 And Adam knew his wife, and she bare unto him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the earth. 3 And from that time forth, the sons and daughters of Adam began to divide two and two in the land, and to till the land, and to tend flocks, and they also begat sons and daughters.
Moses 5:4-5
4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence. 5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
Moses 5:6-7
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. 7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
Moses 5:8-9
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. 9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.

THE FORTUNATE FALL — Adam's Testimony (Moses 5:10)

10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

THE FORTUNATE FALL — Eve's Testimony (Moses 5:11)

11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.

Moses 5:12-15
12 And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. 13 And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish. 14 And the Lord God called upon men by the Holy Ghost everywhere and commanded them that they should repent; 15 And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned; and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled.
15 Verses of Pure Restoration: None of Moses 5:1-15 appears in Genesis. This section reveals Adam and Eve received the gospel—sacrifice as a similitude of Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the doctrine of redemption. Their testimonies (vv. 10-11) transform the Fall from tragedy to blessing.

Cain and Abel: The Offerings

Genesis 4:1-7 BLB
Moses 5:16-25
Genesis 4:1
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Moses 5:16
16 And Adam and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God. And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare Cain, and said: I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject his words. But behold, Cain hearkened not, saying: Who is the Lord that I should know him?
Genesis 4:2
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Moses 5:17
17 And she again conceived and bare his brother Abel. And Abel hearkened unto the voice of the Lord. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Moses 5:18
18 And Cain loved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying: Make an offering unto the Lord.
Genesis 4:3-4
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Moses 5:19-20
19 And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 20 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering;
Genesis 4:5
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Moses 5:21
21 But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:6-7
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Moses 5:22-23
22 And the Lord said unto Cain: Why art thou wroth? Why is thy countenance fallen? 23 If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire. And thou shalt rule over him;
Moses 5:24-25
24 For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world. 25 And it shall be said in time to come—That these abominations were had from Cain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God; and this is a cursing which I will put upon thee, except thou repent.
Why was Cain's offering rejected? Genesis never explains. Moses 5:18 reveals: "Satan commanded him." Cain offered at Satan's direction. Moses 5:24 also reveals Cain's premortal identity: "thou wast also before the world."

The Murder: Cain Slays Abel

Genesis 4:8-15 BLB
Moses 5:26-40
Moses 5:26-28
26 And Cain was wroth, and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, his brother, who walked in holiness before the Lord. 27 And Adam and his wife mourned before the Lord, because of Cain and his brethren. 28 And it came to pass that Cain took one of his brothers' daughters to wife, and they loved Satan more than God.
Moses 5:29-31 — The Secret Combination
29 And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands. 30 And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret. 31 And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.
Genesis 4:8
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Moses 5:32
32 And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him.
Moses 5:33
33 And Cain gloried in that which he had done, saying: I am free; surely the flocks of my brother falleth into my hands.
Genesis 4:9-10
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Moses 5:34-35
34 And the Lord said unto Cain: Where is Abel, thy brother? And he said: I know not. Am I my brother's keeper? 35 And the Lord said: What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood cries unto me from the ground.
Genesis 4:11-12
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Moses 5:36-37
36 And now thou shalt be cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. 37 When thou tillest the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:13
13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Moses 5:38
38 And Cain said unto the Lord: Satan tempted me because of my brother's flocks. And I was wroth also; for his offering thou didst accept and not mine; my punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 4:14-15
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Moses 5:39-40
39 Behold thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the Lord, and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that he that findeth me will slay me, because of mine iniquities, for these things are not hid from the Lord. 40 And I the Lord said unto him: Whosoever slayeth thee, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And I the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

The First Secret Combination

Moses 5:29-31 reveals what Genesis hides: this was a premeditated covenant with Satan. Cain becomes "Master Mahan"—master of the secret of "murder and get gain." In Genesis, the murder appears sudden; in Moses, it's calculated.

The Aftermath: Descendants & Secret Combinations

Genesis 4:16-26 BLB
Moses 5:41-59
Genesis 4:16-22
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 18-22 [Genealogy of Cain's descendants through Lamech]
Moses 5:41-46
41 And Cain was shut out from the presence of the Lord, and with his wife and many of his brethren dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 42-46 [Parallel genealogy with additions: "and other sons and daughters" repeated]
Genesis 4:23-24
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
Moses 5:47-48
47 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah: Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech; for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 48 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech shall be seventy and seven fold;
Genesis does not explain Lamech's boast
Moses 5:49-55 — The Secret Spreads
49 For Lamech having entered into a covenant with Satan, after the manner of Cain, wherein he became Master Mahan, master of that great secret which was administered unto Cain by Satan; and Irad, the son of Enoch, having known their secret, began to reveal it unto the sons of Adam; 50 Wherefore Lamech, being angry, slew him, not like unto Cain, his brother Abel, for the sake of getting gain, but he slew him for the oath's sake. 51 For, from the days of Cain, there was a secret combination, and their works were in the dark, and they knew every man his brother. 52-55 [Lamech cursed; his wives expose the secret; "the works of darkness began to prevail"]
Genesis 4:25-26
25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Moses 5:56-59 — The Gospel From the Beginning
56-57 And God cursed the earth with a sore curse... For they would not hearken unto his voice, nor believe on his Only Begotten Son, even him whom he declared should come in the meridian of time, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world. 58 And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost. 59 And thus all things were confirmed unto Adam, by an holy ordinance, and the Gospel preached, and a decree sent forth, that it should be in the world, until the end thereof; and thus it was. Amen.

The Grand Conclusion

Moses 5:58-59 declares what Genesis never states: "the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning." The plan of salvation wasn't revealed gradually—it was taught to Adam and Eve from the start.

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