Genesis 3:3 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.'"

◄ Genesis 3:3 ►

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.'"

Majority 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.’”

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.

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 Version
but 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 Bible
But 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 Bible
But 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 1917
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.'

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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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.

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Genesis 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.

Berean Study Bible

but of the fruit of the tree
This phrase refers to the specific command given by God regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Hebrew word for "fruit" is "פְּרִי" (peri), which signifies not just the physical fruit but also the consequences or results of an action. The "tree" (עֵץ, etz) in the middle of the garden is central to the narrative, symbolizing the choice between obedience and disobedience to God. Theologically, this tree represents the boundary set by God for humanity, a test of trust and faithfulness.

in the middle of the garden
The location "in the middle" (בְּתוֹךְ, betokh) signifies prominence and centrality, indicating that the tree was not hidden or obscure but placed where it was accessible and visible. This central placement underscores the importance of the choice given to Adam and Eve. The "garden" (גַּן, gan) is Eden, a place of perfect provision and fellowship with God, symbolizing the ideal state of creation before the fall.

God has said
This phrase emphasizes the authority and clarity of God's command. The Hebrew word for "said" (אָמַר, amar) implies a definitive and authoritative statement. It is a reminder of the divine origin of the command and the expectation of obedience. In the broader scriptural context, God's word is always true and trustworthy, serving as the foundation for moral and spiritual guidance.

‘You must not eat of it
The prohibition "You must not eat" (לֹא תֹאכְלוּ, lo tokhelu) is a direct command from God. The act of eating symbolizes taking in and internalizing, suggesting that disobedience would lead to a fundamental change in humanity's relationship with God. This command highlights the concept of free will and the responsibility that comes with it. Theologically, it underscores the idea that true love and obedience to God require the freedom to choose.

or touch it
The addition of "or touch it" (וְלֹא תִגְּעוּ, velo tig'u) is not found in God's original command in Genesis 2:17, suggesting an embellishment or misunderstanding by Eve. This highlights the human tendency to add to God's commands, which can lead to confusion and legalism. It serves as a caution against altering or misrepresenting God's word, which should be received and obeyed as it is given.

or you will die
The consequence "you will die" (פֶּן-תְּמֻתוּן, pen-temutun) is a warning of the spiritual and physical death that results from sin. The Hebrew word for "die" (מוּת, mut) indicates a separation from the source of life, which is God Himself. This phrase underscores the seriousness of disobedience and the reality of its consequences. In the broader biblical narrative, it foreshadows the need for redemption and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

but of the fruit
וּמִפְּרִ֣י (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

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OT Law: Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree (Gen. Ge Gn)