Yes — Genesis 3:15 is the Bible's first great promise of a Redeemer, the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent's head.
Immediately after Adam and Eve fell, God promised that the seed of the woman would be the Redeemer. Les Feldick identifies this Redeemer as Christ, drawing on Galatians 3:16, where Paul says that the seed is Christ. This verse begins what Les calls the scarlet thread or cord of redemption that runs through all of Scripture.
Genesis 3:15 — This is the verse in question — God's promise of enmity between the serpent and the woman and between their seeds, with the woman's seed bruising the serpent's head.
Galatians 3:16 — Paul reveals that the 'seed' in view is Christ, which is why Les teaches that the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15 is the Redeemer.
Genesis 3:15 is part of the Lord God's word to the serpent after the fall. The verse says: "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." The verse itself does not name the Redeemer. It is a prophetic statement of conflict between the serpent and the woman, and between their seeds, with the woman's seed bruising the serpent's head while suffering a bruise on the heel. When the New Testament speaks of the seed, Galatians 3:16 clarifies it: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."
Les calls Genesis 3:15 one of the primary verses in Genesis, even though he describes verses 14–15 as a parenthetical statement in the narrative. He teaches that as soon as Adam sinned, God immediately put the whole plan of redemption in gear by promising a Redeemer, the seed of the woman. Les identifies this seed of the woman as Christ, because Paul explicitly says so in Galatians 3:16. He also describes Genesis 3:15 as the scarlet thread or scarlet cord of redemption that starts at the beginning of the Bible and runs all the way through Scripture. Les explains the verse as a prophecy of ongoing enmity between the powers of Satan and especially the Son of God, who would come as the Redeemer. The seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head, while the serpent would bruise the Redeemer's heel.
According to Les, as soon as Adam and Eve fell, God immediately promised that the seed of the woman would be the Redeemer and would make the way back to God possible. Les describes this as God putting the whole plan of redemption in gear. The promise identifies the Redeemer as the seed of the woman, who would crush the head of the serpent.
Les points to Galatians 3:16, where Paul says the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed, singular, which is Christ. He therefore teaches that the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15 is the coming Christ, the Redeemer. He encourages listeners to remember the word "seed," because the New Testament, especially Galatians, makes it clear who the seed is.
Les explains that Genesis 3:15 foretells a long run of enmity between the powers of Satan and especially the Son of God, who would come on the scene as the Redeemer. The seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent, while the serpent would get his licks in by bruising the heel of the Redeemer.
Genesis 3:15 as a Primary Verse
Les introduces Genesis 3:14–15 as a parenthetical statement, but says verse 15 is one of the primary verses, setting it apart as central to understanding what God promised after the fall.
The First Promise of a Redeemer
Les says that as soon as Adam sinned, God came right back and promised in Genesis 3:15 a Redeemer, the seed of the woman, who is Christ.
The Plan of Redemption Put in Gear
The moment Adam sinned, God put the whole plan of redemption in gear with the promised seed of the woman, which Les calls the scarlet cord of redemption going through the book.
A Redeemer Promised Immediately
Les emphasizes that as soon as Adam and Eve fell, God immediately promised a Redeemer, and he points to Genesis 3:15 as that immediate promise.
The Seed Identified as Christ
Les connects Genesis 3:15's seed of the woman to the Redeemer who makes the way back to God possible, then uses Galatians 3:16 to show the seed is Christ.
Crushing the Serpent's Head
Les reviews that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent, calling this the promised line of redemption and the scarlet thread that begins at Genesis 3:15.
The Word 'Seed' and Its Fulfillment
Les points to the phrase 'her seed,' tells listeners to remember the word 'seed,' and says Galatians plainly states the seed of the woman is Christ, with the promise first voiced right after the fall.
Enmity Between Satan and the Redeemer
Les explains the verse as a long-run enmity between the powers of Satan and especially the Son of God, the coming Redeemer, with the serpent bruising the heel and the seed crushing the head.
Genesis 3:14: 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:
This verse introduces the serpent's punishment and provides the immediate setting for God's promise in the next verse.
Genesis 3:15: 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.
This is the central verse of the question, containing God's first prophetic promise of the seed of the woman who would bruise the serpent's head.
Galatians 3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Paul explicitly identifies the seed as Christ, which Les uses to explain who the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15 is.
Romans 8:21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Les connects the promise of the Redeemer to the eventual deliverance of all creation from the curse introduced by the fall.
Genesis 3:15 is the first prophetic promise of a Redeemer. Immediately after Adam and Eve fell, God promised that the seed of the woman would be the Redeemer and would crush the head of the serpent.
According to Les, the seed of the woman is Christ. He bases this on Galatians 3:16, where Paul says the seed is Christ.
Les calls Genesis 3:15 the scarlet thread or scarlet cord of redemption because it is the promised line of redemption that begins right after the fall and carries all the way through Scripture.
Watch the Teaching: Understanding the Curse & God’s Promise of a Redeemer