Bible Question:

Did God tell Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge?

Bible Answer:

The question answered in this study is, “Did God tell Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?” The answer begins with Genesis 2:16-17 which reveals that God told Adam that there was only one thing he should never do. The passage says,

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 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 shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17 (NASB)

So, did God tell Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge? That question is answered in this article.

Did God tell Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?

Not To Eat of The Tree

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is found only in the book of Genesis (Genesis 2:9, 17; 3:22). God gave Adam only one prohibition. He could not eat of only of the tree that gave the knowledge of good and evil. It was a test of Adam and Eve’s obedience to God. After Eve was created, it also became a test of their faithfulness to God. Did they want to obey Him?

So, did God tell Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge? The answer is, “No!” God commanded Adam to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Yet, Genesis 3:1-3 reveals that Adam must have told Eve to not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The passage says,

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat . . .”  Genesis 3:1-3 (NASB)

Then Genesis 3:4-17 describes Eve’s and Adam’s disobedience, and what happened after they disobeyed. As a result of their sin they and the entire world were cursed (Genesis 3:17-19).

Disobeyed By Eating of The Tree

They did not obey. They were not faithful. They did not believe Him. They failed the test the moment they ate of the tree. That act of disobedience gave Adam and Eve the knowledge of evil. They knew the difference between good and evil after they ate of its fruit. Apparently, God gave this name to the tree because He knew Adam and Eve would disobey Him. The only way they would understand evil was by disobeying God. That is, once they became a sinner they would understand evil. They would bring sin into the world and they would understand good and evil personally. Adam and Eve had the “option” to choose righteousness or evil.

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is another significant tree in the Garden of Eden.

And out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:9 (NASB)

This tree apparently gave eternal physical life to the one who ate from it.

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever . . .”  Genesis 3:22 (NASB)

God did not want men and women who had rejected Him to be able to physically live forever. Can you imagine how evil the world would be if evil men and woman could live forever and never die?

Conclusion:

Adam and Eve immediately experienced the consequences of sin. They experienced darkness. Here is an important comment from Lloyd Cory about sin.

Sin does not serve well as a gardener of the soul. It landscapes the contour of the soul until all that is beautiful has been made ugly; until all that is high is made low; until all that is promising is wasted. Then life is like the desert – parched and barren. It is drained of purpose. It is bleached of happiness. Sin is not wise, but wasteful. It is not a gate, but only a grave.[1]

But Jesus is light and life. We can live in the light but only when we believe in Him.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:4-5 (NASB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NASB)

Would you like to escape the consequences of sin? Then read “Searching For God.”

References:

1. C. Neil Strait, quoted from Llyod Cory Quote Uniquote

Suggested Links:

Searching For God
Why did Eve believe the serpent’s lies and eat the apple?
Were cavemen created when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden?
How long did Adam and Eve stay in the Garden of Eden?
Did Adam and Eve go to heaven?
Why did God say that it was not good for Adam to be alone if Eve already existed?
How many children did Adam and Eve have?
If Adam and Eve had not sinned would they have gone to heaven?
Where did Eve come from?
Did God know and plan for Satan to tempt Adam and Eve?