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In Genesis 3:6-10, the first recorded effect of Adam and Eve's sin is that they realized they were naked. Because of this, they sewed fig leaves together to make loincloths, but this isn't considered enough, as their dialogue with G-d reveals they were still naked. Instead, in Genesis 3:21, G-d made them tunics of leather.

While there are many contrasts that can be drawn between the fig-leaf loincloths and the tunics of skin, does the text suggest that the fig leaves were unable to cover nakedness (since it still suggests Adam and Eve were naked)? Thanks!

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    There is much commentary about exactly what God made for them (gave them actual skin, made clothing from animal fur because it was warm, maybe it was just more resilient in the face of thistles and such. But the Chizkuni also writes, "First Adam and Chavah had made some kind of aprons that could be tied around their loins.(3,7) Now their entire bodies were covered by these tunics"
    – rosends
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 2:42
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    Please include the original Hebrew versions: you will immediately see the difference yourself. But still a good question.
    – Al Berko
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 10:16
  • @AlBerko Could you provide a link to a good Hebrew version? If so, thanks!
    – The Editor
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 22:46
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    Most of us here use sefaria.org/texts, as the standard version. I truly recommend not to pose a question based solely on English translations, before checking the Hebrew original. For a decent thesaurus, I'd recommend sefaria.org/Jastrow
    – Al Berko
    Commented Aug 29, 2021 at 13:28
  • @AlBerko Thanks for letting me know!
    – The Editor
    Commented Aug 29, 2021 at 19:07

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It is clear from the commentators that these clothes were designed to cover all of their body, which the earlier fig-leaves did not (as the verse writes expressly they made only חֲגֹרֹֽת - loincloths).

The Rashbam notes about these new clothes:

כתנות עור וילבישם, coats, long enough to cover the whole body.

As to why they were now necessary, refer to Radak who notes that these clothes were now required to provide greater protection as well as factoring in a change in climate outside Gan Eden that these earlier fig leaves did not allow for.

ויעש ה' אלוקים לאדם ולאשתו כתנות עור, seeing that they had been naked, but had made themselves the aprons made from fig leaves, to cover only their genitals, G-d now provided them with protective clothing for their entire bodies, probably also having in mind different climatic conditions outside the garden....(Sefaria translation)

EDIT

Since you have slightly edited your question, I will now edit my answer. As I mentioned in my comments, the fig leaves only served to cover their private parts (refer to the Radak that I already quoted as well as the Sforno).

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    I would also include the first version that says "חגרות" as opposed to later "כתנת".
    – Al Berko
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 10:17
  • @AlBerko - noted and edited.
    – Dov
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 10:47
  • Thanks for the answer! Would 3:10-11 suggest that they were naked even after making the fig-leaf loincloths?
    – The Editor
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 22:41
  • No they had a loincloth on, but that is not exactly the most modest of attire! i.e. they were still basically naked just their private parts were covered.
    – Dov
    Commented Aug 27, 2021 at 7:50
  • See Sforno - the loincloth just covered their privates sefaria.org/… (as well as the Radak that I mentioned in my answer above)
    – Dov
    Commented Aug 27, 2021 at 7:52

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