King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Complete Jewish Bible:
except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.”
Berean Standard Bible:
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
American Standard Version:
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But of the tree{H6086} of the knowledge{H1847} of good{H2896} and evil{H7451}, thou shalt not eat{H398} of it: for in the day{H3117} that thou eatest{H398} thereof thou shalt surely{H4191} die{H4191}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Romans 6:23
- For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
James 1:15
- Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Genesis 3:19
- In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
Revelation 21:8
- But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Colossians 2:13
- ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Galatians 3:10
- For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
1 Corinthians 15:22
- For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 2:17
Genesis 2:17 is part of the creation narrative in the Book of Genesis, which is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. This verse is set within the Garden of Eden, where God places the first man, Adam, and later creates the first woman, Eve.
**Themes:**
1. **Free Will and Moral Agency:** The command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil introduces the concept of choice. Adam and Eve are given the freedom to obey or disobey, setting the stage for human moral agency.
2. **Knowledge and Wisdom:** The tree symbolizes the pursuit of knowledge, particularly the understanding of good and evil. The verse raises questions about the value and consequences of seeking certain types of knowledge.
3. **Obedience and Consequences:** The command carries a direct consequence for disobedience, emphasizing the importance of obeying divine mandates and the seriousness with which violations are regarded.
4. **Death:** The warning of death for disobedience introduces the concept of mortality, contrasting with the potential for eternal life had they not eaten from the tree.
**Historical Context:**
The verse reflects ancient Near Eastern cultural and religious motifs, where trees often symbolized life, fertility, and divine presence. The idea of a tree bestowing knowledge is a common theme in many ancient mythologies.
Genesis 2:17 is central to the narrative of the Fall of Man, which has been interpreted in various ways throughout Jewish and Christian traditions. It has been seen as an allegory for the loss of innocence and the entrance of sin into the world, as well as a literal historical event. The verse also sets the stage for the subsequent narrative of temptation, sin, and the loss of paradise, which has profound theological implications regarding human nature, divine justice, and the need for redemption.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6086
There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵץ
Transliteration: ʻêts
Pronunciation: ates
Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. - Strong's Number: H1847
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דַּעַת
Transliteration: daʻath
Pronunciation: dah'-ath
Description: from יָדַע; knowledge; cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly). - Strong's Number: H2896
There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טוֹב
Transliteration: ṭôwb
Pronunciation: tobe
Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured). - Strong's Number: H7451
There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַע
Transliteration: raʻ
Pronunciation: rah
Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). - Strong's Number: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.