Genesis 2:17 kjv

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.

Genesis 2:17 nkjv

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Genesis 2:17 niv

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

Genesis 2:17 esv

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Genesis 2:17 nlt

except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die."

Genesis 2 verses

Genesis 2 17 Meaning

Genesis 2:17 establishes a singular divine prohibition in the Garden of Eden, outlining the sole forbidden act and its absolute consequence. God grants humanity extensive freedom to enjoy the abundant provisions of creation, yet institutes one critical boundary: not to consume fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The meaning conveyed is a stark warning that disobedience to this specific command would inevitably lead to death, highlighting the immediate and severe spiritual, and eventually physical, implications of defying God's ordained order. It underscores divine authority, human accountability, and the nature of life and death in relation to covenant obedience.

Genesis 2 17 Context

Genesis 2:17 is given by God to Adam before Eve is created, placing it at the foundation of human existence and their relationship with the Creator. The preceding verses (Gen 2:8-16) describe God's placement of man in the lush Garden of Eden, a paradise replete with trees for food, including the life-sustaining "tree of life." Humanity is commissioned to work and keep the Garden, implying responsibility and partnership with God. Within this context of divine provision and privilege, the single prohibition concerning the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" stands as the lone restriction. This command serves as the primary test of human obedience and trust in God's authority, defining the parameters of freedom and demonstrating humanity's reliance on God as the sole definer of good and evil, rather than autonomously determining it for themselves. It highlights a critical initial covenant (sometimes called the Edenic or Adamic Covenant) with the specific terms of blessing (life in paradise) for obedience and curse (death) for disobedience.

Genesis 2 17 Word analysis

• "but of": Hebrew u-mi-p’ri. The "but" signifies a direct contrast and exclusion to the preceding grant of universal permission (Gen 2:16, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely"). It sharply demarcates the sole exception.
• "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil": Hebrew ‘ets ha-da‘at tov va-ra‘.
  • ‘ets (עֵץ): "tree." A literal tree, but also a symbol representing a principle or choice.
  • ha-da‘at (הַדַּעַת): "the knowledge." Not merely intellectual acquaintance but experiential knowledge, an ability to determine or discern. It's about self-governance or autonomy. This knowledge would allow humanity to define for themselves what is good and what is evil, apart from God's established standards.
  • tov va-ra‘ (טוֹב וָרָע): "good and evil." Refers to all aspects of morality and judgment. Possessing this knowledge through forbidden means implies a usurpation of God's prerogative to set ethical boundaries and declare what is beneficial or detrimental. It implies living independent of divine revelation for moral truth.
• "you shall not eat": Hebrew lo’ to’khel. A strong negative command, indicating absolute prohibition. It is the direct act that triggers the consequence. "Eat" here represents an act of partaking and incorporating, which leads to becoming like the source (Gen 3:22).
• "for": Hebrew ki. Connects the prohibition directly to its inevitable outcome, presenting a causal relationship.
• "in the day that": Hebrew b'yom. Often used idiomatically to mean "when" or "at the time that," rather than literally a 24-hour period. While immediate spiritual death (separation from God, a corrupted nature) occurred, physical death became a certainty, its process beginning, manifesting eventually over Adam and Eve's long lifespans (Gen 5:5). It indicates the certainty and swiftness of the consequence following the act, not necessarily an immediate cessation of all life.
• "you eat of it": Hebrew achalkha mimmenu. Continues the specific forbidden act.
• "you shall surely die": Hebrew mot tamut. This is a crucial expression using the infinitive absolute (מות) before the finite verb (תָמוּת).
  • This grammatical construct emphatically stresses the certainty, intensity, and severity of the consequence. It means "dying, you shall die," "dying you will die," or "you will die certainly."
  • This death is multi-faceted:
    1. Spiritual Death: Immediate separation from God, alienation from His life-giving presence, loss of direct fellowship. This is evidenced by their hiding from God in Gen 3.
    2. Moral/Relational Death: Corruption of human nature, leading to shame, guilt, self-consciousness, and strained relationships (e.g., between Adam and Eve, and with God).
    3. Physical Death: The introduction of mortality, decay, and the return to dust, beginning the process of bodily degradation which culminates in the cessation of physical life (Gen 3:19). The process of dying begins, not an instant annihilation.
    4. Eternal Death: The ultimate separation from God for those who remain unredeemed by Christ (Rev 20:14).

Genesis 2 17 Bonus section

The context of this prohibition, being the sole restriction amidst lavish provision, underlines God's benevolent rule. It emphasizes that the default state of existence under God is blessing and life. The presence of such a clear command and warning presupposes genuine free will; humanity truly had the capacity to obey or disobey. The motivation for the command was not punitive but protective—to shield humanity from the destructive consequences of asserting independence from their Creator and from a kind of "knowledge" that they were not yet spiritually or morally equipped to handle responsibly. The tragic outcome of their disobedience confirms the profound accuracy and justness of God's initial warning. This verse is key to understanding the entirety of salvation history, establishing the necessity of redemption to reverse the death introduced by Adam's transgression.

Genesis 2 17 Commentary

Genesis 2:17 is far more than a simple instruction; it is a foundational statement defining the initial relationship between God and humanity. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil served as a profound test of faith and obedience. The "knowledge" it offered was not benign intellectual discernment, which God surely possesses, but rather an independent, experiential knowledge, enabling humanity to decide autonomously what constitutes good and evil. By reaching for this tree, man would be attempting to usurp God's unique prerogative as the ultimate standard of truth and morality.

The prohibition, therefore, highlights God's sovereignty and His desire for a relationship based on trust, not human self-determination. Man's freedom was extensive, yet delimited by this singular, vital command. Disobedience would lead not to arbitrary punishment but to the inherent consequence of choosing autonomy over divine wisdom: death. The phrase "you shall surely die" (מות תמות, mot tamut) is a solemn pronouncement of absolute certainty and severity. This death was not merely the instant cessation of physical life, but an immediate spiritual death—a severance of perfect fellowship with the life-giving Creator. This spiritual alienation quickly manifested as guilt and shame, leading to physical decay and mortality being introduced into the human experience and the created order. The command thus sets the stage for the biblical narrative of sin, judgment, and ultimately, God's plan of redemption. It reveals that life, true life, is found in obedient relationship with God, and departure from Him results in a death that affects every dimension of existence.