17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

Other Translations of Genesis 2:17

King James Version

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely thou shalt surely...: Heb. dying thou shalt die die.

English Standard Version

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eatOr when you eat of it you shall surely die."

The Message

17 except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead."

New King James Version

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

New Living Translation

17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 2:17

Commentary on Genesis 2:16-17

(Read Genesis 2:16-17)

Let us never set up our own will against the holy will of God. There was not only liberty allowed to man, in taking the fruits of paradise, but everlasting life made sure to him upon his obedience. There was a trial appointed of his obedience. By transgression he would forfeit his Maker's favour, and deserve his displeasure, with all its awful effects; so that he would become liable to pain, disease, and death. Worse than that, he would lose the holy image of God, and all the comfort of his favour; and feel the torment of sinful passions, and the terror of his Maker's vengeance, which must endure for ever with his never dying soul. The forbidding to eat of the fruit of a particular tree was wisely suited to the state of our first parents. In their state of innocence, and separated from any others, what opportunity or what temptation had they to break any of the ten commandments? The event proves that the whole human race were concerned in the trial and fall of our first parents. To argue against these things is to strive against stubborn facts, as well as Divine revelation; for man is sinful, and shows by his first actions, and his conduct ever afterwards, that he is ready to do evil. He is under the Divine displeasure, exposed to sufferings and death. The Scriptures always speak of man as of this sinful character, and in this miserable state; and these things are true of men in all ages, and of all nations.