Genesis 3:3

KJV

But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

KJV (with Strong's)

But of the fruit {H6529} of the tree {H6086} which is in the midst {H8432} of the garden {H1588}, God {H430} hath said {H559}, Ye shall not eat {H398} of it, neither shall ye touch {H5060} it, lest {H6435} ye die {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, ‘You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.’”

Berean Standard Bible

but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’”

American Standard Version

but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 3:3 captures Eve's pivotal response to the serpent's deceptive inquiry, revealing the initial departure from God's precise command that sets the stage for humanity's fall. While seemingly a faithful recitation of divine prohibition, Eve's subtle alterations to God's word expose a vulnerability to deception, ultimately paving the way for the tragic unraveling of creation's perfect harmony and the entrance of sin into the world.

### CONTEXT
This verse immediately follows the serpent's cunning challenge to God's direct command in [Genesis 3:1](/genesis/3-1 "The serpent's subtle question to Eve"), where he questioned the divine prohibition concerning the Garden's trees. Eve's reply here is her re-articulation of the original divine instruction given by God to Adam in [Genesis 2:16-17](/genesis/2-16 "God's original command regarding the trees"), specifically regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Her words, though largely accurate, contain two critical alterations that expose her susceptibility and provide the serpent with the leverage needed for successful temptation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Eve's response to the serpent in [Genesis 3:3](/genesis/3-3 "Eve's response to the serpent"), "But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die," appears, on the surface, to be a faithful recounting of God's prohibition. However, a closer examination reveals two subtle yet profound deviations from the original divine instruction given in [Genesis 2:17](/genesis/2-17 "God's original command to Adam"). These alterations are not mere slips of memory but indicative of a deeper spiritual susceptibility that the serpent masterfully exploits.

* **Addition of "neither shall ye touch it":** God's original command explicitly forbade *eating* from the tree, but there was no prohibition against *touching* it. This human addition suggests a tendency to either create extra-biblical fences around God's commands—perhaps out of a desire for greater safety—or to misremember the precise boundaries set by the Creator. While seemingly harmless, such an addition can inadvertently diminish the weight of God's actual command by blurring the lines between divine decree and human inference. Crucially, it also provides the tempter an opportunity to demonstrate that a "transgression" (touching) does not result in the threatened consequence (death), thereby casting doubt on the veracity of the *actual* prohibition.

* **Softening of the consequence from "surely die" to "lest ye die":** God's original warning was "thou shalt surely die" (Hebrew: *moth tamuth*), an emphatic construction underscoring the certainty of death. Eve's "lest ye die" (Hebrew: *pen temuthun*) implies a mere possibility or risk. This subtle shift transforms a definite, unavoidable consequence into a contingent one. By reducing the certainty of death to a mere possibility, Eve unwittingly undermines the severity of God's warning and, by extension, the seriousness of the sin itself. This weakening of the divine threat provides the serpent with a crucial opening to directly contradict God's word, as he does in [Genesis 3:4](/genesis/3-4 "The serpent's direct contradiction of God's word"), where he boldly declares, "Ye shall not surely die." The narrative vividly illustrates how even minor deviations from the precise truth can create significant inroads for deception, ultimately leading to the catastrophic decision to [take and eat the forbidden fruit](/genesis/3-6 "Eve's act of taking the forbidden fruit").

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **The Authority and Integrity of God's Word:** This verse highlights the absolute importance of accurately knowing and holding fast to God's precise commands. Eve's subtle alterations underscore the danger of either adding to or subtracting from divine revelation, a warning echoed throughout Scripture, such as in [Deuteronomy 4:2](/deuteronomy/4-2 "Do not add or subtract from God's word") and [Proverbs 30:5-6](/proverbs/30-5 "Every word of God is pure").
* **The Nature of Temptation and Deception:** The serpent's strategy, beginning with questioning God's word and exploiting Eve's imprecise knowledge, reveals the insidious nature of spiritual warfare. Temptation often begins not with outright rebellion but with subtle misrepresentations of truth, aiming to sow doubt about God's goodness and trustworthiness, a tactic seen again in the temptation of Christ in [Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Jesus' temptation and reliance on God's word").
* **The Progression of Sin:** Eve's response illustrates a critical step in the progression toward sin. Her weakening of God's command and the introduction of human additions demonstrate a shift from steadfast obedience to a questioning of divine boundaries, paving the way for the [act of disobedience](/genesis/3-6 "Eve's act of taking the forbidden fruit") that brings sin and death into the world, as described in [Romans 5:12](/romans/5-12 "Sin entered the world through one man").
* **The Consequence of Disobedience:** While Eve softens the consequence to "lest ye die," the narrative ultimately confirms the certainty of death as the outcome of sin, a truth consistently taught in the Bible, such as [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "The wages of sin is death").

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Genesis 3:3](/genesis/3-3 "Eve's response to the serpent") serves as a timeless warning for believers today, underscoring the vital necessity of diligently studying and accurately handling the Word of God. Just as Eve's slight misrepresentation opened the door to devastating deception, our own casualness or additions to Scripture can lead us astray, making us vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy. This narrative challenges us to not only know God's commands precisely but also to cherish their exact truth, recognizing that faithfulness to His Word is our surest defense against spiritual compromise and the path to life.

### FAQ
**Why did Eve add "neither shall ye touch it" to God's command?**

Answer: The text does not explicitly state her motivation. It's often interpreted as either a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to create a "fence" around God's command for extra safety, or simply a misremembering or embellishment of the original instruction. Regardless of intent, this addition provided the serpent an opportunity to discredit God's word.

**What is the significance of Eve softening "surely die" to "lest ye die"?**

Answer: This subtle alteration transforms a definite, certain consequence into a mere possibility or risk. By diminishing the certainty of God's threatened judgment, Eve inadvertently undermined the severity of disobedience and made herself more susceptible to the serpent's direct contradiction that they would "not surely die." It reflects a weakening of conviction regarding God's absolute truth.

**Was Eve intentionally lying or simply mistaken?**

Answer: The text suggests she was likely mistaken or had allowed the precision of God's command to erode in her memory or understanding. There's no indication of malicious intent to lie, but rather a vulnerability to deception stemming from an imprecise grasp of divine truth. This highlights how even unintentional inaccuracies can have profound consequences.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Genesis 3:3](/genesis/3-3 "Eve's response to the serpent") sets the stage for humanity's failure through a subtle departure from God's precise word and subsequent disobedience. Christ, however, stands as the perfect antithesis to this failure. Where Eve distorted God's command and succumbed to temptation, Jesus perfectly embodied and fulfilled the Law, demonstrating absolute obedience to the Father's will even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Christ's obedience unto death")). He is the living Word of God, the very truth that Eve failed to uphold, and through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, He reverses the curse of sin introduced by Adam and Eve's disobedience, offering life where they brought death ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.