Devine Scripture

Genesis 3:22

What does Genesis 3:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 3:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Genesis 3:22 means

God acknowledges that humanity, by disobeying and gaining knowledge of good and evil, has become "as one of us," though in a twisted, fallen way. The divine concern here is to prevent them from eating from the "tree of life" in their fallen state, which would grant them eternal life while still in rebellion. This would tragically perpetuate their sinful condition indefinitely, necessitating their expulsion from the garden.

Genesis 3:22 in context

Genesis 3 — The Fall of Man

Into the garden of the previous chapter comes the serpent, more subtle than any beast of the field. He casts doubt on God's word, then on God's goodness, and at last persuades the woman that the way to be like God is to disobey him. Adam, present and silent, eats with her. Innocence collapses into shame; communion with God gives way to hiding; the man blames the woman, the woman blames the serpent, and creation itself is cursed. Yet at the very moment of judgment a promise is given: the seed of the woman will crush the serpent's head (3:15). It is the gospel in seed form.

  • Temptation
  • Sin and shame
  • The protoevangelium
  • God's mercy in judgment

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Lord God said, Now the man has become like one of us, having knowledge of good and evil; and now if he puts out his hand and takes of the fruit of the tree of life, he will go on living for ever.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jehovah God saith, `Lo, the man was as one of Us, as to the knowledge of good and evil; and now, lest he send forth his hand, and have taken also of the tree of life, and eaten, and lived to the age,' --

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now therefore lest perhaps he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jehovah Elohim said, Behold, Man is become as one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever...!

Context

This verse provides the divine reasoning behind the expulsion, immediately following God's provision of clothing. It clarifies that humanity's newly acquired knowledge, due to sin, makes their continued access to eternal life within the garden problematic. This divine deliberation directly sets the stage for the definitive action of driving them out and guarding the tree of life.

v.21And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.

v.22This passage

v.23therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 19:12

    Where then are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now; and let them know what Jehovah of hosts hath purposed concerning Egypt.

  • Jeremiah 22:23

    O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

  • Proverbs 3:18

    She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

  • Genesis 11:6

    And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.

  • Isaiah 47:12

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

  • Genesis 1:26

    And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Sermon ideas from Genesis 3:22

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Genesis 3:22 teaches us about temptation

  • What Genesis 3:22 teaches us about sin and shame

  • What Genesis 3:22 teaches us about the protoevangelium

  • What Genesis 3:22 teaches us about god's mercy in judgment

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