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.

Genesis 3:3 nkjv

but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' "

Genesis 3:3 niv

but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'?"

Genesis 3:3 esv

but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"

Genesis 3:3 nlt

"It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'"

Genesis 3 verses

Genesis 3 3 Meaning

Genesis 3:3 presents Eve's recounting of God's prohibition regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In her statement to the serpent, Eve accurately conveys the command not to eat from it and the consequence of death, yet she introduces an addition: "nor shall you touch it." This subtle modification, which was not part of God's original instruction to Adam (Gen 2:17), sets the stage for the serpent's subsequent deception and the Fall.

Genesis 3 3 Context

Genesis 3:3 is Eve's response within the garden, immediately following the serpent's direct question in Genesis 3:1, which cunningly misrepresented God's initial command. In Genesis 2:16-17, God had explicitly instructed Adam not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, stating that eating would result in certain death. This verse finds Eve communicating directly with the tempter, setting up the subsequent unraveling of trust in God's word. The conversation occurs in a pristine world where one boundary, the forbidden tree, symbolized God's sovereignty and man's reliance on Him. Humanity’s understanding and faithful adherence to this single prohibition was the test of their relationship with their Creator.

Genesis 3 3 Word Analysis

• "but God said" (וַיּאֹמֶר אֱלֹהִים, vayyomer Elohim): This phrase opens Eve's statement, presenting it as an authoritative decree from God. It grounds her understanding of the command, even if flawed. However, the contrast here is with the serpent's prior insinuation; Eve defends God's voice, albeit imperfectly.
• "You shall not eat" (לאֹ תאֹכְלוּ, lo' tokhelu): This is part of God's original prohibition (Gen 2:17), which explicitly forbade the ingestion of the fruit. The verb 'akhal emphasizes consuming or devouring. Eve accurately retained this core element of the command.
• "from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (מֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע, me'etz hadda'at tov wara'): This specific identifier highlights the object of the prohibition. The "knowledge of good and evil" signifies the capacity for independent moral discernment, defining right and wrong apart from God's revelation. This was not inherent in the tree but bestowed upon humans upon transgression.
• "nor shall you touch it" (וְלֹא תִגְּעוּ בּוֹ, welo' tigge'u bo): This is Eve's notable addition to God's command. The Hebrew verb naga' means "to touch," "to lay hands on," or "to strike."
  • Significance of the addition:
    • Exaggeration/Misunderstanding: Eve may have misunderstood or overstated God's command, possibly in an effort to be overly cautious, to reinforce the seriousness of the prohibition, or due to a fear of the divine warning.
    • Preparation for Doubt: This exaggeration becomes a critical point of attack for the serpent. By disproving the added "no touch" rule (which the serpent likely encourages Eve to test, even implicitly), the serpent can then sow doubt about the primary "no eat" rule and its associated death penalty.
    • Distortion of God's Character: An added prohibition, even if well-intentioned, could subtly portray God as overly restrictive or unreasonable.
• "lest you die" (פֶּן־תְּמֻתוּן, pen-temutun): Eve's phrasing ("lest you die") implies a possibility or warning ("in case you die") rather than the certainty of God's original declaration to Adam, "you shall surely die" (מוֹת תָּמֻת, mot tamut), which is an emphatic idiom for guaranteed death.
  • Significance of "lest you die":
    • Softening of Consequence: It subtly dilutes the absolute certainty and severity of God's promised judgment, turning it from an assured consequence into a mere possibility.
    • Reflection of Doubt: This softened wording may reflect a nascent doubt in Eve’s own mind regarding God's unwavering truthfulness, or it could be her effort to articulate a severe consequence without the absolute language God used.

Genesis 3 3 Bonus section

• Eve's potential knowledge: The exact manner in which Eve received this command (whether directly from God or via Adam) is not stated, but her recounting suggests she understood it, albeit imperfectly.
• The nature of the lie: The serpent does not immediately contradict God's existence or power, but rather His truthfulness and goodness. Eve's softened words about death ("lest you die") provide an opening for the serpent's bolder lie ("you will not surely die").
• Subtle vs. Overt Sin: Eve's initial error is not disobedience but a verbal misrepresentation of God's word. This illustrates how small inaccuracies can precede and pave the way for major transgression.
• The Tree's Symbolism: The tree represented the single restriction upon Adam and Eve's freedom. It was not inherently evil, but a test of obedience, defining who had ultimate authority and knowledge in their lives—God or themselves.

Genesis 3 3 Commentary

Genesis 3:3 is a pivotal verse because it exposes the subtle unraveling of obedience and trust in God's Word. Eve's addition of "nor shall you touch it" and her slight softening of the death penalty's certainty are crucial. The serpent, the master deceiver, capitalized on this human alteration. By encouraging Eve to interact with the tree beyond God's exact command (e.g., to simply touch it, perhaps), and observing that touch does not bring immediate death, the serpent skillfully used Eve's own exaggeration to undermine God's genuine and precise warning about eating.

This passage teaches that altering God's commands, even with good intentions (like being extra cautious), can make one vulnerable to temptation. When human additions become mixed with divine truth, it creates an opportunity for doubt about God's perfect and righteous character. The serpent's strategy highlights that the first step to outright rebellion is often subtle distortion, eroding confidence in God's precise words and gracious intentions. It underscores the critical importance of knowing, believing, and adhering strictly to what God has actually revealed, rather than relying on interpretations or human modifications. For believers today, this means diligently studying Scripture to understand God's specific will, guarding against legalism (adding human rules) and license (diminishing God's warnings).