Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” New Living Translation “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” English Standard Version but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Berean Standard Bible but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” King James Bible But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. New King James Version but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” New American Standard Bible but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” NASB 1995 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” NASB 1977 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’” Legacy Standard Bible but from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, ‘You shall not eat from it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.’” Amplified Bible except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.’” Christian Standard Bible But 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.’ ” Holman Christian Standard Bible But 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.’"” American Standard Version but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Contemporary English Version except the one in the middle. He told us not to eat fruit from that tree or even to touch it. If we do, we will die." English Revised Version but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. GOD'S WORD® Translation except the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, 'You must never eat it or touch it. If you do, you will die!'" Good News Translation "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die." International Standard Version "but as for the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You are not to eat from it, nor are you to touch it, or you will die.'" NET Bible but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, 'You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.'" New Heart English Bible but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Webster's Bible Translation But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblebut about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” World English Bible but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall not touch it, lest you die.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbut from the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God has said, You do not eat of it, nor touch it, lest you die.” Young's Literal Translation and of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said, Ye do not eat of it, nor touch it, lest ye die.' Smith's Literal Translation And from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, Ye shall not eat from it, and ye shall not touch upon it, lest ye shall die. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise, God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we die. Catholic Public Domain Version Yet truly, from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of Paradise, God has instructed us that we should not eat, and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we may die.” New American Bible it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die.’ ” New Revised Standard Version but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And from the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of Paradise God said, “You shall not eat from it and you shall not touch it, lest you shall die.’ OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' Brenton Septuagint Translation but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Serpent's Deception…2The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4“You will not surely die,” the serpent told her.… Cross References Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, / but 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.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. 1 Timothy 2:14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression. Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. Matthew 4:3-4 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” / But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. Hosea 6:7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me. Ezekiel 28:13-15 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation. / You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for I had ordained you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. / From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you. Isaiah 14:12-15 How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. / You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ... 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Treasury of Scripture But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. But. Genesis 2:16,17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: … touch. Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Exodus 19:12,13 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: … 1 Chronicles 16:22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Jump to Previous Death Die Eat Fruit Garden Hands Middle Midst Touch TreeJump to Next Death Die Eat Fruit Garden Hands Middle Midst Touch TreeGenesis 3 1. The serpent deceives Eve.6. Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin. 8. God arraigns them. 14. The serpent is cursed. 15. The promised seed. 16. The punishment of mankind. 21. Their first clothing. 22. Their expulsion from paradise. but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden This phrase refers to the specific tree known as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was placed by God in the Garden of Eden. The garden is described as a lush, fertile place, possibly located in the region of Mesopotamia, given the rivers mentioned in Genesis 2:10-14. The tree's central location signifies its importance and the pivotal role it plays in the narrative of the Fall. Theologically, the tree represents the boundary set by God for human obedience and the choice between life and death. God has said ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” Persons / Places / Events 1. EveThe first woman, created by God as a companion for Adam. In this verse, she is speaking to the serpent about God's command. 2. The Serpent A creature used by Satan to tempt Eve. The serpent is cunning and challenges God's command. 3. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Located in the middle of the Garden of Eden, this tree represents the boundary set by God for Adam and Eve. 4. The Garden of Eden The perfect dwelling place created by God for Adam and Eve, symbolizing God's provision and presence. 5. God The Creator who gave the command not to eat from the tree, representing His authority and the moral order He established. Teaching Points Understanding God's CommandsRecognize the importance of knowing and adhering to God's specific instructions. Eve's addition of "or touch it" shows a deviation from God's original command, which can lead to misunderstanding and sin. The Nature of Temptation Temptation often involves questioning God's word and intentions. Be vigilant against distortions of God's truth that can lead to disobedience. Consequences of Disobedience Reflect on the serious consequences of disobeying God. The warning "you will die" underscores the gravity of sin and the need for obedience. The Role of Deception Acknowledge how deception can lead to sin. Stay grounded in Scripture to discern truth from lies. God's Provision and Boundaries Appreciate the boundaries God sets for our protection and well-being. Trust in His wisdom and provision. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 3:3?2. What does Genesis 3:3 reveal about God's command regarding the forbidden tree? 3. How does Eve's response in Genesis 3:3 reflect her understanding of God's command? 4. Why is it significant that Eve adds "nor touch it" in Genesis 3:3? 5. How can we apply the lesson of obedience from Genesis 3:3 today? 6. What other Bible verses emphasize the importance of adhering to God's commands? 7. Why did God prohibit eating from the tree in Genesis 3:3? 8. What does the tree of knowledge symbolize in Genesis 3:3? 9. How does Genesis 3:3 relate to the concept of free will? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 3? 11. What is the tree of knowledge of good and evil? 12. Did Adam and Eve die due to sin? 13. Why do people ignore terms and conditions? 14. Who was the guardian of Eden's east? What Does Genesis 3:3 Mean about the fruit– The verse begins, “but about the fruit…,” signaling that the conversation between the serpent and the woman has zeroed in on one specific item God set apart (Genesis 2:16-17). – Fruit in Scripture often represents what is produced from a choice (Matthew 7:17-18). Here it embodies humanity’s opportunity either to trust God’s wisdom or rely on its own. – By isolating “the fruit,” the text reminds us that even one act of disobedience matters (James 2:10). of the tree in the middle of the garden – Genesis 2:9 stresses that this tree was “in the middle of the garden,” making it impossible to ignore and underscoring that obedience is a daily, visible decision. – Its central placement highlights God’s right to place boundaries at the very center of life (Psalm 24:1). – Every other tree was freely available (Genesis 2:16); only this one was restricted, demonstrating that true freedom includes submitting to God’s single “no” amid many “yes” options. God has said – Eve anchors her response in divine revelation: “God has said.” The authority is not her opinion but God’s explicit word (Psalm 33:9). – Scripture consistently grounds obedience in what God has spoken (2 Timothy 3:16). – When temptation comes, the safest footing is always “God has said,” not feelings or majority opinion (Matthew 4:4). You must not eat of it – The original command in Genesis 2:17 was clear: “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. – God sets moral boundaries for our protection, not deprivation (1 John 5:3). – Obedience tests love: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). – The restriction shows that humanity is a steward, not the sovereign, of creation (1 Corinthians 4:2). or touch it – “Or touch it” is not recorded in God’s original directive (Genesis 2:17). Eve either intensifies the command for emphasis or has already begun to blur what God actually said. – Adding to God’s word is as dangerous as taking away from it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6). – Well-meaning extra rules can create confusion and make God seem harsher than He is (Colossians 2:21-23). – The scene cautions us to know Scripture accurately so we can stand firm in trials (Psalm 119:11). or you will die – The consequence is uncompromising: “for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17). – Death here is both spiritual—separation from God (Ephesians 2:1)—and eventual physical death (Romans 5:12). – The penalty underscores that sin is lethal, not trivial (Romans 6:23). – God’s warning is an expression of love, alerting humanity to danger before it steps over the line (Ezekiel 18:23). summary Genesis 3:3 preserves Eve’s imperfect echo of God’s perfect command. The verse spotlights humanity’s choice, God’s clear boundaries, the peril of altering His word, and the certainty of judgment for disobedience. Obedience was—and still is—the path of life; sin brings death. The passage ultimately anticipates the need for a Redeemer who will conquer death for all who trust Him (1 Corinthians 15:22). Hebrew but of the fruitוּמִפְּרִ֣י (ū·mip·pə·rî) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6529: Fruit of the tree הָעֵץ֮ (hā·‘êṣ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood in the middle בְּתוֹךְ־ (bə·ṯō·wḵ-) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre of the garden, הַגָּן֒ (hag·gān) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 1588: An enclosure, garden God אֱלֹהִ֗ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative has said, אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘You must not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no eat תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ (ṯō·ḵə·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 398: To eat of it מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (mim·men·nū) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of [or] וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no touch תִגְּע֖וּ (ṯig·gə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike it, בּ֑וֹ (bōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew [or] פֶּן־ (pen-) Conjunction Strong's 6435: Removal, lest you will die.’” תְּמֻתֽוּן׃ (tə·mu·ṯūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Links Genesis 3:3 NIVGenesis 3:3 NLT Genesis 3:3 ESV Genesis 3:3 NASB Genesis 3:3 KJV Genesis 3:3 BibleApps.com Genesis 3:3 Biblia Paralela Genesis 3:3 Chinese Bible Genesis 3:3 French Bible Genesis 3:3 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree (Gen. 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