Genesis 2:17

“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.”
King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations of Genesis 2:17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and euill, thou shalt not eate of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.
- King James Version (1611) - Compare to scan of original Genesis chapter 2

but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
- New American Standard Version (1995)

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.
- American Standard Version (1901)

But of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not take; for on the day when you take of it, death will certainly come to you.
- Basic English Bible

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt certainly die.
- Darby Bible

But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat. for in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the death.
- Douay Rheims Bible

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die.
- Webster's Bible

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."
- World English Bible

and of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou dost not eat of it, for in the day of thine eating of it -- dying thou dost die.'
- Youngs Literal Bible

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.'
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Danilo's comment on 2015-06-13 10:18:21:

The fruit of the tree in discussion is fruit of knowledge of GOOD and EVIL. Ones you eat the fruit from it, you surely die. Eating the fruit is birth of knowledge. Adam and Eve learned to evaluate what is good and evil. The two creatures learned what is honor, the meaning of responsibilities, and protection, to himself. Both of them learned, that were part of their surrounding. God was very happy seeing that Adam and Eve were intelligent being to manage and administer the evolution and development of the earth. Now, God know that Adam by eating the fruit learned to know, that he is now a family man, who needs to persevere for the future of his beloved wife and children. Eve being the loving wife by eating the fruit, found to love her husband and nurture her children. God never said that eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil made Adam and Eve sinners.

b.n's comment on 2014-01-18 22:55:46:

You or Adam etc didn't or will not die a literally death you /they die/died a spiritual death you can't look at black letters on a piece of papers you gotta go in looking as the lord god which is spiritual

Gerry's comment on 2013-12-31 12:06:26:

Genisis 2:17 means exactly what it says ... total Exegesis NOT Eisegesis

Jared's comment on 2013-10-30 13:33:18:

Nowhere in the bible does it say that the fruit was an apple.

clint's comment on 2013-10-18 06:34:49:

even in their disobedience God still brought truth and his unfailing love

Sis Terry's comment on 2013-10-02 10:00:06:

This response to all that agreed with Mr James Mcardle's comment on 02-08-2011...We cannot or should not use the bible to try to justify our bad habits. Genesis Chapter 1:12 When God created the Heavens and Earth including the trees and herbs of the field God said it Good. Keep in mind God had not created man or woman therefore sin had not come into existence. God said Genesis 2...
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Look what it said from every TREE you eat. He did not say of everything that grows on vines or shurbs such as Pot, Cocaine, Herion, Opium, Halusingens and/or any other mind altering trees such as things like coffee, tobacco, grapes, ect...By right you can do those things because God is giving you the same choice he gave Adam. You too will face that same curse and that is as you said "mind altering" which is why God will have to destroy you and anybody else that will not conform to the Creator. This is exactly the curse,our minds has been altered through this simple act of disobedient. This applies to us ALL! Hope to hear from you soon.

Anonymous's comment on 2013-08-11 20:55:04:

Remain like children in not judging others.

Anonymous's comment on 2013-08-11 20:47:39:

I think it means this:
Eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil will lead us to 'know'(judge others) if you eat of knowledge -knowing what is good or evil, then we die. We become judges of each other, we view something/someone as good or evil. So remain "ignorant' non-judgemental)of each other in order to live. Mind your business.

Aimee's comment on 2013-07-16 02:48:18:

If it states in Numbers 23:19 God does not lie yet, this verse says if they eat the fruit they will surely die that day. What kind of death was it?
By eating it, it caused disobedience, therefore rebellion & sin. Meaning satan had access to their lives to rob, kill & destroy

Bernard's comment on 2013-06-04 05:04:07:

The tree was only a symbol of obedience, Man chose to eat and disobey their creator.The part I concentrated on was that Adam did not die in the literal day that he ate from the tree thus allowing a day to mean a period of time

gloria's comment on 2011-12-27 16:29:15:

i dont understand how bitingh of an apple could make you sin.

RALPH M. WATERS's comment on 2010-12-30 09:22:06:

At one point man did knew nothing but life.
Once he ate from the tree, he had the knowledge of the angels. In the image of GOD he was created. At that point his position as an angel was lossed and he was cast out. He was cast to the earth, as SATAN was cast IN the earth. Man no longer was protected with the HEAVENLY HOST but allowed SIN to do what SIN do - KILL and DESTROY. (sin = Satan)

ben weaver's comment on 2010-12-25 06:42:46:

Is it OK to surmise a little? A tree seems to be a natural structure that bears fruit (desirable outcome). The two trees that are named seem abstract from what we normally think of as trees. Maybe, some of the other trees were also symbolic. In Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and more. Might there have been a tree of love etc. in the garden of Eden? God commanded them not to eat (partake) of the tree of knowing (experiencing) both good and evil. It does seem that God had already offered them every good that he created for them to have, so I don't know why He would now forbid kmowing good along with evil. This test seems to continue even today. In Deut. 30:19, God says, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live". In all areas of life, God wants us to have the ultimat of good, not trouble and misery. Jesus came that we could have life in abundance (Jn. 10:10). It is an enemy that is intent to kill, steal, and destroy, as with Eve. Lets be fully devoted to the good shepherd.

Ben Weaver's comment on 2010-11-21 18:45:45:

The words know & knowledge often refer to an intimate relationship with a condition or person rather than information in ones memory, i.e. Cain knew his wife and she conceived. Also, God didn't say knowledge about, but knowledgee of good and evil. Now, they already knew good at its best, but God didn't want his creation project to experience evil. The Heb. word for evil is "RA" and is also translated to 29 other words in the Bible, such as trouble, distress, sick and other conditions of misery. Rom. 8:22 says "The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain". Is this the result the first humans choosing to partake of evil. There are also some difficulties with this interpretation.

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