As with many common verbs, the meaning of “to say” in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Who is speaking? Who is hearing? What is it about? Is it a command, a message, an apology, instruction? All these things enter into the meaning of “say.” In general, though, “saying” has to do with sharing truth at various levels -- from the most exalted power people can have to perceive the Lord's desires directly to the most basic of orders issued to people at their lowest.

226. Verses 9, to And Jehovah God called out to the man and said to him, Where are you? And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. What 'calling out' and 'a voice in the garden' mean, and why 'they were afraid because they were naked and hid themselves' have been explained already. Even though the Lord knows everything already. It is a common occurrence in the Word for Him first to ask the man Where? and What? The reason why he is asked is so that he himself may acknowledge and confess.