What is the symbolism in Adam and Eve hiding from God?

Answer 1

When Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened to their naked state. It's been said that they had been formally covered by glory in their innocence and that covering was lost. Realizing they were naked, they sought to cover themselves, and so used fig leaves to try to create clothing. While the act of sin caused the immediate beginning of death in their bodies (what we think of as aging), the concept of death was still unknown to them. Moreover, while they knew they had done wrong, they did not know how it would need to be made right. God had to kill animals to create clothing in symbolism of the fact that blood is needed to pay for sin. This is a foreshadowing of Christ's blood on the cross covering all of man's sin. One common interpretation is that this is a symbol of man trying to cover his sins himself. It doesn't work long-term. God had to step in.

Answer 2

In modern religious belief, God is perceived as omniscient and omnipotent. There would be no expectation of being able to hide from God. In the earliest Hebrew traditions, God was anthropomorphic and had limits to his powers. When the two sinners realised they had done wrong, it was natural to want to hide from God. God could not see them, but called for them.

Other examples of the perceived limits to the power of God include, in the Yahwist creation story (Genesis 2:4b-2:25) that he could not make Adam from nothing - he needed some moist clay; similarly to make Eve, he needed Adam's rib.

This passage symbolised Adam and Eve's knowledge that God had limits to his power (a perception that did change through the course of The Bible).

Answer 3

They ate the Fruit of Knowledge and when god came the realized that they were naked so they covered themselves up with leaves