Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 2:17
17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Genesis 2:17 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.”
- English Standard Version (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."
- New King James Version (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.”
Context of Genesis 2:17
15The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” 18Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” 19The Lord God formed out of the ground every wild animal and every bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
Read all of Genesis 2Genesis 2:17 word by word
וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 2:17
- Genesis 2:9The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
- Genesis 3:3But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
- Genesis 20:7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”
- Numbers 26:65For the Lord had said to them that they would all die in the wilderness. None of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- Deuteronomy 27:26‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
- 1 Samuel 14:39As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him.
- 1 Samuel 20:31Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me — he must die!”
- 1 Samuel 22:16But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech — you and your father’s whole family!”
- 1 Kings 2:37On the day you do leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will certainly die. Your blood will be on your own head.”
- Jeremiah 26:8When he finished the address the Lord had commanded him to deliver to all the people, immediately the priests, the prophets, and all the people took hold of him, yelling, “You must surely die!
- Ezekiel 3:18If I say to the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him — you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life — that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.
- Ezekiel 18:4Look, every life belongs to me. The life of the father is like the life of the son — both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
- Ezekiel 33:8If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.
- Romans 1:32Although they know God’s just sentence — that those who practice such things deserve to die — they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
- Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
Commentaries on Genesis 2:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Of 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 - XII. The Command 15. נוּח nûach “rest, dwell.” עבד ‛ābad “work, till, serve.” שׁמר shāmar “keep, guard.” We have here the education of man summed up in a single sentence. Let us endeavor to unfold the great lessons that are here taught. Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man. - The same omnipotent hand that made him still held him. “And put him into the garden.” The original word is “caused him to rest,” or dwell in the garden as an abode…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-17Verses 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. Worse than that, he would lose…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17but you must not eat: This rule is given in the same way as Israel’s Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 5:6–21). The Lord included law and obedience in his covenant with humanity. the knowledge of good and evil: See study note on 2:9. you will surely die: Disobedience would bring immediate spiritual death (loss of relationship with God) and eventual physical death (see 3:22–23; Ecclesiastes 12:6–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 2:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries