Yes—God's making coats of skins was far more than physical clothing; it involved the shedding of blood and symbolized His imputed righteousness.
God killed animals to make the skins, satisfying the absolute requirement of blood for remission. Les Feldick teaches that the final phrase 'and clothed them' refers to spiritual clothing—God's righteousness—rather than just the animal hides. Adam's faith, shown when he named Eve, preceded God's gracious provision.
Genesis 3:21 — This verse directly records God making coats of skins and clothing Adam and Eve, showing His provision after sin.
In Genesis 3:21, immediately after the curse is pronounced and before Adam and Eve leave the garden, the LORD God makes coats of skins and clothes them. The text does not explicitly mention blood, but the use of skins necessarily implies the death of an animal. Hebrews 9:22 states that without shedding of blood there is no remission, and Isaiah 61:10 speaks of being clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, language that later connects to God's covering of believers.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the coats of skins were God's direct provision, replacing the fig leaves that were a human endeavor. By killing animals, God satisfied the absolute requirement of a blood sacrifice—the only way lost persons can be received by God (Hebrews 9:22). Les distinguishes the physical covering from the deeper spiritual meaning: God not only covered their nakedness but also 'clothed them' with His own righteousness. He ties this to Adam's faith—Adam named Eve 'mother of all living,' believing God's promise despite the curse—and then God moved on his behalf. The skins point to imputed righteousness, where believers are clothed not with animal hides but with the righteousness of God.
Les points out that the fig leaves were not God's idea at all; they were a human endeavor. God killed the sacrificial animals and used their skins to provide clothing that replaced the inadequate fig leaves. This act required the shedding of blood and satisfied the absolute requirement of a blood sacrifice, the only way God can receive lost persons.
Les stresses the last three words of Genesis 3:21, 'and clothed them,' as the most important. The coats of skins covered physical nakedness, but the clothing of Adam and Eve was spiritual. They received a spiritual garment—God's imputed righteousness. This is pictured in Isaiah 61:10, being clothed with garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness.
Les highlights that Adam named his wife Eve, meaning 'mother of all living,' after sin and the curse. This shows Adam believed what God had told him—that he would live and have descendants. That faith, taking God at His word, preceded God's provision of the sacrificial animals and the spiritual clothing.
Adam's Faith in Naming Eve
Adam's naming Eve as 'mother of all living' shows he believed God's promise that the human race would continue, which was fundamental to God's subsequent provision of the skins.
The Blood Sacrifice Requirement
God killed sacrificial animals to make the skins, fulfilling the absolute requirement of shedding blood for remission, as stated in Hebrews 9:22.
Physical vs. Spiritual Clothing
The coats covered physical nakedness, but the final phrase 'and clothed them' refers to spiritual clothing, not the skins.
God Provides the Sacrificial Animals
After Adam showed faith, God fulfilled the second imperative by providing the sacrificial animals, whose blood was shed.
Clothed with Righteousness of God
The skins of Genesis 3 point to being clothed not with animal hides but with the righteousness of God.
Imputed Righteousness and Isaiah 61
Adam and Eve were clothed with a spiritual garment of imputed righteousness, beautifully pictured in Isaiah 61:10.
The First to Experience Imputed Righteousness
Adam, who plunged humanity under the curse, was also the first to experience the imputed righteousness that God alone could give.
God's Instruction on Blood Sacrifice
God did not abandon Adam's family; He instructed them on approaching Him through blood sacrifice accompanied by faith.
Genesis 3:21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
The direct record of God providing the skins, which required the death of animals.
Genesis 3:20: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Shows Adam's faith in God's promise of future offspring despite the curse.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Underlies why the animal sacrifice was necessary for Adam and Eve's restoration.
Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Pictures the spiritual clothing of righteousness that Les connects to the coats of skins.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.
Shows the righteousness of God that believers receive by faith, which the skins foreshadowed.
Yes. To get skins, God killed animals, which involved the shedding of blood. Les connects this to Hebrews 9:22, where without shedding of blood there is no remission, showing that this was God's prescribed way of restoring fellowship.
No. He emphasizes that the coats covered physical nakedness, but the key phrase 'and clothed them' is spiritual. God clothed Adam and Eve with His own righteousness, a picture of imputed righteousness.
Watch the Teaching: Understanding the Curse & God’s Promise of a Redeemer