The first direct mention of a Redeemer comes not in the Gospels, but in the very first book of the Bible. After Adam and Eve sinned, God didn’t just issue a curse, He issued a promise. Genesis 3:15 says:
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
This was spoken directly to the serpent, Satan, immediately after he led mankind into rebellion. God speaks prophetically, declaring not only the future of the serpent, but the coming victory through the “Seed of the woman.” This is not just about Eve and a snake. It is the first revelation of the Messiah and the war between His kingdom and the enemy.
The Seed of the Woman
God mentions “her Seed”, which is striking. In all of Scripture, the word seed is always used in reference to the man’s lineage. But here, the Messiah is uniquely identified with the woman, not a man. This points unmistakably to the virgin birth of Christ. No earthly father is mentioned because Jesus would be conceived by the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 7:14 prophesies this:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
The phrase “her Seed” is singular, not plural. God is not speaking about humanity in general, but one specific individual—Jesus Christ. Paul explains this clearly in Galatians 4:4:
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”
Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy—born of a woman, not through the seed of man. This is the cornerstone of His sinlessness and divinity.
The Serpent Shall Bruise His Heel
God tells the serpent, “you shall bruise His heel.” This points to Christ’s suffering on the cross. The heel is not a fatal wound, but it is painful and real. The bruising represents the suffering, the betrayal, the stripes, the crown of thorns, and the nails. Satan would strike hard, and it would cost Jesus His life—yet not in defeat. Isaiah 53:5 declares:
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
This is exactly what God declared in the garden, Satan would bruise the Messiah, but not destroy Him.
He Shall Bruise Your Head
The victory is in this: “He shall bruise your head.” The head wound is fatal. Jesus would deal the death blow to the serpent. This happened at the cross and the resurrection. The power of sin was broken, death was conquered, and Satan was rendered powerless over those in Christ. Hebrews 2:14 confirms this:
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Colossians 2:15 gives us the same victory:
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
The Seed of the woman crushed the serpent’s head through His obedient death and victorious resurrection. Satan still roams, but his head has been crushed. His authority is broken. His end is certain.
Enmity Between the Seeds
God says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed.” This is more than a reference to Eve and snakes. It is the spiritual war between the children of God and the children of the devil. This enmity is throughout Scripture: Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Saul and David, and ultimately, Christ and the Antichrist. Jesus Himself said to the Pharisees in John 8:44:
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.”
There are only two lines in Scripture, the line of Christ and the line of the serpent. You’re either in Adam or in Christ. That enmity will not end until the final judgment. Revelation 20:10 shows the end of the serpent:
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
That is the final crushing.
My Final Thoughts
Genesis 3:15 is not just a prophecy, it is a declaration of war. From the moment sin entered, God announced His plan to send a Redeemer, born of a woman, who would suffer, but not be overcome. Satan would bruise His heel, but the Messiah would crush the serpent’s head. This tells us from the very beginning that Jesus was never a backup plan, He was always the plan.
We are living in the aftermath of that crushing. Jesus has won, and we now stand in that victory. But the enmity continues until the end. Every person must choose where they stand: with the Seed of the woman, or with the seed of the serpent. There is no neutral ground. Let us remember that Christ’s victory was not just for the world, it was for you. He took the bruising so you could walk in freedom. He crushed the head of the serpent so you could live without fear. Walk boldly. Live righteously. The victory is already won.
