Genesis 3:23 kjv

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 3:23 nkjv

therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.

Genesis 3:23 niv

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

Genesis 3:23 esv

therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.

Genesis 3:23 nlt

So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.

Genesis 3 verses

Genesis 3 23 Meaning

Genesis 3:23 describes the divine decree and action of God in expelling humanity from the Garden of Eden. Following their disobedience, the Lord God sent Adam out to return to the task of working the very ground from which he was created. This act signifies the immediate and severe consequence of the Fall, resulting in humanity's separation from the Garden's perfect provisions and effortless fellowship with God, and re-entering a life of labor, now burdened by the curse on the earth.

Genesis 3 23 Context

Genesis chapter 3 marks a pivotal turning point in biblical history, narrating humanity's Fall from grace. After the creation narrative of Genesis 1-2, which describes a perfect world and humanity's unburdened existence in the Garden of Eden, chapter 3 introduces the temptation by the serpent, the disobedience of Eve and Adam in eating from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and its immediate consequences. This verse, Gen 3:23, directly follows God's realization that humanity, having acquired knowledge of good and evil, could potentially gain immortality by also eating from the Tree of Life (Gen 3:22).

Historically and culturally, the narrative resonates with Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) concepts of sacred spaces and divine-human interaction. While ANE myths often depict humans as slaves to the gods, serving to meet divine needs, the Genesis account uniquely portrays humanity as stewards, entrusted with tending creation. The expulsion from Eden, therefore, signifies not just punishment, but a removal from a specific divine sphere to a mundane, arduous existence. It is a judgment but also a preventative measure to secure God's redemptive plan by preventing humanity from eternalizing a state of rebellion. This verse lays the groundwork for understanding the human condition throughout Scripture – toil, struggle, and longing for a restored relationship with God and His perfect creation.

Genesis 3 23 Word analysis

• Therefore (וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ, vay'shalchehu from ו vav 'and, so' and שָׁלַח shalach 'send, stretch out'): The vav conjunctive here functions as a consequential link, indicating that what follows is a direct result or outcome of the preceding divine deliberation (Gen 3:22). It underscores the definitive nature of God's judgment and action. This expulsion is a necessary protective measure, not arbitrary.
• the Lord God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, Yahweh Elohim): This compound divine name is often used in Genesis 2-3 to emphasize God's personal, covenantal relationship with humanity (Yahweh) and His sovereign power and authority as Creator and Judge (Elohim). It highlights that the decision and action of expulsion come from the ultimate authority and are part of His plan for His creation.
• sent him out (וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ, vay'shalchehu from שָׁלַח, shalach 'to send forth, dismiss, banish'): The verb shalach denotes a definitive act of dismissal or banishment, rather than a suggestion or permission to leave. It is a forceful, irrevocable expulsion. This action implies a formal, judicial sentence executed by divine authority, separating humanity from a privileged state.
• from the Garden of Eden (מִגַּן עֵדֶן, miggan ‘Eden):
  • Garden (גַּן, gan): A cultivated, enclosed space, here presented as a sanctuary of life, divine presence, and ease. Its loss is the loss of a paradisiacal existence.
  • Eden (עֵדֶן, ‘Eden): Derived from a root suggesting "delight" or "luxury." It signifies a place of supreme pleasantness and abundance, reflecting the pre-Fall harmony and direct access to God's provisions. Being sent "from" implies irreversible severance from this ideal environment.
• to work the ground (לַעֲבֹד אֶת־הָאֲדָמָה, la‘avod et-ha’adamah):
  • to work (לַעֲבֹד, la‘avod from עָבַד, ‘avad 'to serve, work, cultivate'): This verb was first used in Gen 2:15 regarding Adam's pre-Fall task. Here, it maintains the same fundamental meaning of cultivating or serving the land. However, its context drastically changes after the curse on the ground in Gen 3:17-19. It transforms from joyful stewardship into arduous toil and struggle against a resisting earth.
  • the ground (הָאֲדָמָה, ha’adamah): This specific term refers to the fertile soil from which man (adam) was formed (Gen 2:7). There's a profound wordplay here: adam (man) is destined to labor upon adamah (the ground). This links his origin directly to his divinely ordained labor and mortality, reminding him of his earthy composition and dependence.
• from which he was taken (אֲשֶׁר לֻקַּח מִשָּׁם, asher luqqaḥ mishsham): This phrase explicitly reiterates Adam's origin from the dust of the ground (Gen 2:7). It grounds humanity's destiny (return to dust) in its very origin. The expulsion from Eden isn't just to work any ground, but to work the specific element that constituted him. This emphasizes humility, mortality, and the renewed direct relationship with the very substance of his creation.

Genesis 3 23 Bonus section

• Merciful Judgment: While harsh, the expulsion is a paradox of judgment and mercy. God prevents Adam from becoming eternally damned in a state of rebellion by denying access to the Tree of Life (Gen 3:22). This painful separation is thus a crucial prerequisite for a future plan of redemption and reconciliation.
• The Unveiling of the Curse: The phrase "to work the ground from which he was taken" illuminates the nature of the curse. It's not that work itself is inherently bad—it was part of creation's design (Gen 2:15)—but the nature of the work changes. It becomes burdened, laborious, and fraught with resistance from the very earth from which man emerged, leading to fatigue and often insufficient returns.
• Biblical Pattern of Expulsion/Exile: The banishment from Eden sets a recurring pattern in the Bible. It is the first in a series of expulsions or exiles: Cain from the cultivated land (Gen 4), humanity scattered from Babel (Gen 11), Israel exiled from the Promised Land (Deut 28, 2 Kgs 25). Each reflects a divine judgment against sin and a removal from a place of blessing or security, emphasizing the consequences of disobedience and the longing for true home and rest.

Genesis 3 23 Commentary

Genesis 3:23 is more than a simple act of eviction; it is a profound declaration of humanity's new existence under the shadow of the Fall. The "sending out" by the Lord God is a divinely sovereign and necessary consequence, primarily aimed at preventing humanity in its sinful state from accessing the Tree of Life and thus becoming eternally corrupted (Gen 3:22).

While Adam was originally placed in Eden "to work and keep it" (Gen 2:15), the labor described in 3:23 takes on a starkly different character due to the curse pronounced on the ground (3:17-19). What was once harmonious cultivation now becomes arduous toil, producing "thorns and thistles" (3:18) and requiring "the sweat of your face" (3:19). This expulsion signifies humanity's forced departure from a state of divine provision and effortless abundance to one of struggle, limited resources, and direct encounter with the difficult realities of a fallen world.

The deep connection between adam (man) and adamah (ground) is critical here. By being sent back "to work the ground from which he was taken," Adam is returned to his elemental origins, underscoring his physical limitations and mortality. This humbling reminder sets the stage for a life defined by physical labor, often frustrating, but also a continuing reminder of his dependence on God for sustenance despite the cursed conditions. This foundational shift establishes themes of exile, labor, and the longing for restoration that echo throughout the biblical narrative, ultimately finding their answer in Christ and the promise of a new heavens and new earth where the curse is undone.