22
The Lord God said, "The man has become like one of us. He can now tell the difference between good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick fruit from the tree of life and eat it. If he does, he will live forever."
Reference
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Hebrew: ʼĕnâsh
a man
Greek: πρέπω (prépō)
to tower up (be conspicuous), i.e. (by implication) to be suitable or proper (third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it is fit or right)
Greek: παρόμοιος (parómoios)
alike nearly, i.e. similar
Greek: εἰρήνη (eirḗnē)
peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity
Hebrew: ʼalmônîy
some one (i.e. so and so, without giving the name of the person or place)
Greek: ἡμεῖς (hēmeîs)
we (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: νυνί (nyní)
just now
Hebrew: ʼĕdayin
then (of time)
Greek: ἐκλαλέω (eklaléō)
to divulge
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: διαίρεσις (diaíresis)
a distinction or (concretely) variety
Greek: μεταξύ (metaxý)
betwixt (of place or person); (of time) as adjective, intervening, or (by implication) adjoining
Greek: βίος (bíos)
life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood
Hebrew: rᵉkûwsh
property (as gathered)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: φαῦλος (phaûlos)
"foul" or "flawy", i.e. (figuratively) wicked
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: οὐδαμῶς (oudamōs)
by no means
Hebrew: ʼîyn
is it not?
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: ἐφικνέομαι (ephiknéomai)
to arrive upon, i.e. extend to
Hebrew: tsâbaṭ
to grasp, i.e. hand out
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Greek: χείρ (cheír)
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)
Hebrew: ʼekeph
a load; by implication, a stroke (others dignity)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ὀπώρα (opṓra)
properly, even-tide of the (summer) season (dog-days), i.e. (by implication) ripe fruit
Hebrew: ʼêb
{a green plant}
Greek: ἐγγύς (engýs)
near
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δένδρον (déndron)
a tree
Hebrew: ʼîylân
a tree
Greek: ζάω (záō)
to live (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: chay
alive; also (as noun in plural) life
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: γεύομαι (geúomai)
to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience (good or ill)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: βιόω (bióō)
to spend existence
Hebrew: chăyâʼ
to live
Evil
Genesis 2:9
Genesis 3:5
Parallel theme
Revelation 22:14
Proverbs 3:18
Revelation 22:2
References God
Revelation 2:7
Genesis 1:26
Verse Explanation
God explained that the man and the woman had gained knowledge through their choice and should not be allowed to eat from the tree that would let them live forever in their fallen condition. This decision protected them from remaining forever in a broken state. The verse teaches that God's actions are guided by wisdom, even when they are difficult to understand. Sometimes limits are established not to harm people but to prevent even greater problems. God's decisions always consider the long-term good rather than only the immediate situation.