Genesis 2 · Verse 17

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.
Genesis 2:17, King James Version

Genesis 2:17 in other translations

BSBbut you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
WEBbut you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
ASVbut 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.
YLTand 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.'
DARBYbut 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.
BBEBut 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.
WebsterBut 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.

What does Genesis 2:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. thou shalt not eat of it ... thou shalt surely die--no reason assigned for the prohibition, but death was to be the punishment of disobedience. A positive command like this was not only the simplest and easiest, but the only trial to which their fidelity could be exposed.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Of the tree of the knowledge - thou shalt not eat - This is the first positive precept God gave to man; and it was given as a test of obedience, and a proof of his being in a dependent, probationary state. It was necessary that, while constituted lord of this lower world, he should know that he was only God's vicegerent, and must be accountable to him for the use of his mental and corporeal powers, and for the use he made of the different creatures put under his care. The man from whose mind the strong impression of this dependence and responsibility is erased, necessarily loses sight of his origin and end, and is capable of any species of wickedness. As God is sovereign, he has a right to give to his creatures what commands he thinks proper. An intelligent creature, without a law to regulate his conduct, is an absurdity; this would destroy at once the idea of his dependency and accountableness. Man must ever feel God as his sovereign, and act under his authority, which he cannot do unless he have a rule of conduct. This rule God gives: and it is no matter of what kind it is, as long as obedience to it is not beyond the powers of the creature who is to obey. God says: There is a certain fruit-bearing tree; thou shalt not eat of its fruit; but of all the other fruits, and they are all that are necessary, for thee, thou mayest freely, liberally eat. Had he not an absolute right to say so? And was not man bound to obey? Thou shalt surely die - מות תמות moth tamuth; Literally, a death thou shalt die; or, dying thou shalt die. Thou shalt not only die spiritually, by losing the life of God, but from that moment thou shalt become mortal, and shalt continue in a dying state till thou die. This we find literally accomplished; every moment of man's life may be considered as an act of dying, till soul and body are separated. Other meanings have been given of this passage, but they are in general either fanciful or incorrect.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 2:16-17

Let us never set up our own will against the holy will of God. There was not only liberty allowed to man, in taking the fruits of paradise, but everlasting life made sure to him upon his obedience. There was a trial appointed of his obedience. By transgression he would forfeit his Maker's favour, and deserve his displeasure, with all its awful effects; so that he would become liable to pain, disease, and death…

Read the full comment on Genesis 2:16-17 →

Genesis 2:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּמֵעֵ֗ץu.me.'Etzand from [the] tree ofH6086
הַדַּ֙עַת֙ha.Da.'atthe knowledgeH1847
ט֣וֹבTovgoodH2896
וָרָ֔עva.Ra'and evilH7451
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
תֹאכַ֖לto.Khalyou must eatH398
מִמֶּ֑נּוּmi.Me.nufrom itH4480
כִּ֗יKiforH3588
בְּי֛וֹםbe.Yomon [the] dayH3117
אֲכָלְךָ֥'a.khal.Khaeating youH398
מִמֶּ֖נּוּmi.Me.nufrom itH4480
מ֥וֹתMotcertainly <to die>H4191
תָּמֽוּת\׃ta.Mutyou will dieH4191

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 2:17

  • Romans 6:23

    For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • James 1:15

    Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:56

    The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

  • Galatians 3:10

    For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:22

    For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

  • Revelation 21:8

    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

  • Colossians 2:13

    And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

  • 1 John 5:16

    If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

  • 1 Timothy 5:6

    But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

  • Genesis 3:17

    And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

  • Ezekiel 18:32

    For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
of the tree.
9; 3:1-3,11,17,19
thou shalt surely die. Heb. dying thou shalt die. surely.
3:3,4,19; 20:7; Nu 26:65; De 27:26; 1Sa 14:39,44; 20:31; 22:16
1Ki 2:37,42; Jer 26:8; Eze 3:18-20; 18:4,13,32; 33:8,14; Ro 1:32
Ro 5:12-21; 6:16,23; 7:10-13; 8:2; 1Co 15:22,56; Ga 3:10; Eph 2:1-6
Eph 5:14; Col 2:13; 1Ti 5:6; Jas 1:15; 1Jo 5:16; Re 2:11; 20:6,14
Re 21:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 2:16

    And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

  • 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.

  • Genesis 2:18

    And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Read all of Genesis 2

Genesis 2:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas del árbol de ciencia del bien y del mal no comerás de él; porque el día que de él comieres, morirás.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais de l’arbre de la connaissance du bien et du mal, tu n’en mangeras pas; car, au jour où tu en mangeras, tu mourras certainement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		aber von dem Baume der Erkenntnis des Guten und Bösen, davon sollst du nicht essen; denn welches Tages du davon issest, wirst du gewißlich sterben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		de ligno autem scientiæ boni et mali ne comedas: in quocumque enim die comederis ex eo, morte morieris.