How does Genesis 3:2 demonstrate Eve's understanding of God's command to Adam? Setting the Scene Genesis 2:16-17 revealed God’s original instruction to Adam: “You may freely eat from every tree of the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…”. Genesis 3 opens with the serpent questioning Eve about that command, leading to her reply in verse 2. Genesis 3:2 “The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden.’” Evidence That Eve Understood the Core of God’s Permission • Uses “we,” showing she knew the command applied to both her and Adam, not merely to him • Recognizes God’s generosity—permission to eat from the trees, not a blanket prohibition • Identifies the setting correctly: “the garden,” matching God’s wording • Speaks confidently, indicating she has internalized the instruction rather than repeating it vaguely or with uncertainty Nuances and Omissions in Her Response • Leaves out the intensifier “freely” (“freely eat”), slightly under-stating God’s lavish provision • Does not yet mention the single forbidden tree—though she will in verse 3, the omission here softens the clear boundary God drew • Shorter phrasing may hint that she remembers the gist but not every detail word-for-word What This Reveals About Her Understanding • She possesses accurate knowledge: God allowed abundant access to food in Eden • Her grasp is partial rather than exhaustive; key elements (generous freedom, specific prohibition, certain death if disobedient) are not all present in this single sentence • A small weakening of God’s exact words opens space for the serpent to challenge and distort the command in the verses that follow Takeaway Observations for Today • Knowing God’s Word precisely guards us from subtle distortion • Even minor alterations—omitting an adjective, softening a boundary—can erode clarity and invite temptation • Passing truth on second-hand requires special care; we do well to return to God’s own words often, ensuring our understanding remains complete and accurate |
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