213. They realized that they were naked means that they recognized and admitted that they were living in evil and not in the innocence they had had before. This can be deduced from the last verse of the previous chapter, where it says, "And they were both naked, the human and his wife, and did not blush." Their lack of embarrassment over their nakedness symbolizes their innocence, as may be seen there [§§163-165].
The symbolism is just the opposite when they do show embarrassment, as is the case here, where they sewed fig leaves together and hid themselves. When innocence is lacking in us, nakedness is a matter of shame and scandal because we are conscious of wrong thoughts. 1 For this reason, nudity in the Word is seen as a bad and shameful thing and is used to portray a perverted church. Ezekiel, for instance, says that the church was naked, bare, and trampled in its blood (Ezekiel 16:7, 22). In the same author:
Let them leave her naked and bare, and let her nakedness be unveiled. (Ezekiel 23:29)
In John:
I advise you to buy white clothes, so that you will be dressed and the shame of your nakedness will not be exposed. (Revelation 3:18)
And concerning the last days:
Fortunate are those who are watchful and keep their clothes, to avoid walking naked and letting others see their shame. (Revelation 16:15)
In Deuteronomy:
If a man finds any nakedness whatever in his wife, let him write her a document of divorce. (Deuteronomy 24:1)
Likewise Aaron and his sons were required to have linen shorts to cover the flesh of their nakedness when they approached the altar to minister; otherwise they would bear their sin and die (Exodus 28:42-43).
Footnotes:
