At the dawn of creation, the Lord crafted a human being and breathed breath into his nostrils, transforming him into a living soul. The Lord then established a garden in the East, in Eden, where he caused various trees to sprout from the earth, all of which were visually appealing and suitable for nourishment. In the center of the garden, two prominent trees stood—the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Subsequently, the Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden to tend to it and nurture it. He commanded the man to eat freely from any tree in the garden, with one exception: he was forbidden to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord warned Adam that in the day he consumed its fruit, he would surely die (Gen. 2:4-17).
What could God have meant by saying to Adam, “You shall surely die?” Was he referring to spiritual death or physical demise? Does this death impact all of humanity? Is there a way to reverse its effects? Let’s explore this passage more thoroughly to gain a clearer understanding.
Who is “You?”
We’ll dissect Genesis 2:17 piece by piece, starting with who is speaking and to whom. In this case, the Lord God, the Creator of all things, is addressing who many consider to be the first human being—”Adam.” God created Adam to worship him, which fundamentally means he designed the person to honor and serve him.
Among Adam’s responsibilities was to tend the garden, and as the Bible teaches, a worker deserves his wages (1 Tim. 5:18); thus, God graciously permitted Adam to enjoy the fruits of the garden he cared for. Nevertheless, he instructed Adam not to eat from one specific tree, warning that doing so would lead to certain death.
Interestingly, in the Septuagint, the verbs “eat” and “die” found in this verse aren’t singular but rather plural. Because of this, there are various theories regarding who might have been present when God spoke, though these remain speculative.
For instance, some suggest that God was referring to Eve, even though she hadn’t yet been created. It’s also possible, as some believe, that the first human was a dual entity, a being with two sides, until the Lord separated them and created the woman from one of the sides. Thus, she would have been present and privy to the conversation.
Nevertheless, irrespective of the details, I believe the most important point to recognize regardless of differing interpretations, is that ultimately, when God spoke to Adam in this instance, he was referring to all of humanity. This conclusion is supported by the following verses.
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” (Rom. 5:12 NIV)
“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 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.” (Rom. 5:18-19)
It was God’s plan from the beginning that Adam would produce offspring (Gen. 1:26-28). Therefore, it’s clear that he intended for this command to apply to all of them as well, and if at any time they might decide to disobey, the consequences would not only affect Adam, but also his descendants, encompassing the whole human race.
Adam would have been therefore responsible for conveying this information to all of his descendants, not just his immediate family as many have suggested, in an effort to assert “male headship” in families and in churches.
In fact, Adam, and Christ, were the only ones to hold this unique leadership position. Essentially, as the first of their kind, they were initially responsible for teaching God’s will to the rest of humanity, in order for us to obey it. As for the rest of us, both men and women, we are all responsible for passing on the truth.
But, at that point in time, “Adam” was the entirety of humanity. He was the sole representative of all mankind. Consequently, when God addressed Adam, he was, in fact, speaking to all of humanity. So, to simplify, we might interpret God’s instruction to Adam as:
“You (all) are not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because in whatever day you (all) eat from it, you (all) will certainly die.”
OR
“You (all) are not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because in whatever day mankind eats from it, mankind will certainly die.”
This post will proceed based on the understanding that God was addressing Adam individually, while simultaneously referring to all humankind. Next, we will investigate the nature of this death, and what it means for mankind to die.
What Kind Of Death?
What type of death would humanity face if Adam were to partake of the forbidden tree? Would it be a spiritual death or a physical one? In other writings, I’ve pointed out that much like the idea of “spiritual authority,” the term “spiritual death” is absent from Scripture. This is a belief I once held, but it appears to be a fabricated explanation for certain “unexplainable” matters.
The fact that Adam lived until approximately 900 years old is one of these matters. Given that God declared he would die on the same day that he ate, it appears that this wasn’t a reference to a physical death, as Adam went on to live a full life afterward.
Therefore, since Adam didn’t experience physical death within that day, some conclude that his death must have been spiritual. This reasoning likely contributes to the concept of “spiritual death” that’s become prevalent in Christianity, despite the Bible neither mentioning nor suggesting it.
However, when we consider how death is used in Scripture, it becomes evident that the idea of “spiritual death” is not rooted in the Bible and is not the subject being addressed here in this verse.
In the case of those who promote a physical death, some theorize that God’s reference to a day might not correspond to our standard 24-hour cycle; they argue that since Adam lived for about 900 years, he could be considered to have died within a day according to God’s perspective, as the Bible states that to God, a day is like 1,000 years (2 Ptr. 3:8).
However, others contend that this statement is merely figurative, and on top of that, this interpretation wouldn’t explain how Adam’s death impacts the rest of humanity. Moreover, not all will die physically (1 Thess. 4:17), so how does this relate to those who won’t?
While it may be true that, to God, a day is like 1,000 years, the biblical account specifies that for us, a day consists of an evening and a morning (Gen. 1:5). Therefore, it would be more reasonable to believe that since God is speaking directly to the human, about the human’s life, that he is speaking to him about the human experience rather than what’s happening in the heavenly realm. As a result, I don’t think the “day is like a thousand years” theory explains it either.
One thing that’s worth noting, however, is that the words translated as “day” from the Hebrew and Greek languages can both reflect not just a set period of time, but also an unspecified period or a process of time. Here are some examples from Scripture:
Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” (Genesis 35:3)
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:13)
though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain. (Isaiah 17:11)
You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, (Ezekiel 16:56)
Therefore, there are two things that could be said: Number one, it’s possible that Adam and Eve ate from the tree not just once, but over time. There is no indication of how much or how long they ate, only that they ate.
Also, it’s unclear when their eyes were “opened.” Perhaps the process was gradual, with the peak being the realization that they were naked. Instead of just being guilty of a one-time mistake, this would have compounded their guilt and shame, resulting in their extreme measures to avoid God, with their response revealing they’d been eating from the tree (Gen. 3:10-11),
So, the words “in/on the day you eat of it” could simply mean “whenever you eat from it,” or “when you begin to eat from it,” without mentioning a specific time frame. Of course, this is just speculation; however, it’s still totally possible and fairly reasonable.
But, the second and more important point concerning this unconventional use of the word “day,” is that it can also mean that the certain death Adam was promised, was not to happen within a certain set period such as 24 hours, but within an unspecified period of time.
Basically, what I’m saying is, the timing of their eating had no bearing on when they would die, although generally, we interpret the statement as, “You die, the day you eat.” But that’s not necessarily the message. For further explanation, consider Shemei’s situation (1 Kgs. 2:36-46).
Echoing the language found in Genesis 2:17, Solomon warned Shemei that on the day he left Jerusalem, he’d know for certain that he would die. While I’m no expert in biblical or even modern geography, I suspect that the time it took Shemei to prepare and travel on a donkey from Jerusalem to Gath, locate and gather slaves, be reported to the king by someone without modern communication methods, and then return to Jerusalem with the slaves, followed by being summoned to the king and ultimately facing his reprimand and execution, would exceed a single day.
Therefore, it is likely that Shemei was not executed on the same day he transgressed, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. All these events unfolded over an unspecified period of time. This is the stance I’ll take in this post regarding Adam and Eve. As I progress, I will assume the understanding that mankind’s death will be both physical and in the future, not spiritual or instantaneous.
“You Shall Surely Die”
Some individuals continue to advocate for the idea of an initial spiritual death preceding a physical death, citing a literal translation of the phrase found in Genesis 2:17 (Hebrew Bible) which states, “dying you shall die” or “you shall die die.”
While Hebrew language scholars typically argue that this phrase is simply a form of repetition used for emphasis or to convey certainty, there are those who maintain a literal understanding, concluding that Adam, due to sin, entered a dying process that would ultimately lead to physical death.
Others interpret “You shall surely die” as a figurative statement, referring solely to physical death, similar to the idea of a “dead man walking.” In other words, while you may currently be alive, don’t get too comfortable or make any long-term plans, as you are essentially as good as dead.
I somewhat agree with this last interpretation. I believe that God informed Adam that at the point in time that he and/or his descendants chose to eat the fruit from the tree, humanity would be sentenced to physical death.
What is the true nature of death? What does it mean to die? I’ve prepared a separate post to specifically answer those questions in detail which you can view here for your consideration.
But in summary, death essentially refers to a state of inactivity and can occur naturally or through forced means. In forced death, the person or persons are killed, usually violently. Therefore, death can also mean, “execution.” Here are a couple of examples where death refers to one being put to death rather than dying of natural causes.
Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought. (Deut. 19:6 NIV)
Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor, (Deut. 22:26)
I believe that the Septuagint provides the most insight into our key verse. The Greek text uses the singular dative form of the noun thanatos for “death.” It is immediately followed by the future-tense, second-person plural form of the verb apothnēskō, which translates to die.
(Greek: θανάτῳ ἀποθανεῖσθε; English: thanato apothaneisthe)
Therefore, the phrase could literally say something like, “by death, you all will die.” To rephrase, mankind will die, and death will be the instrument that makes it happen.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the terms death and die in this context. Again, death can refer to a killing or an execution. As a matter of fact, the almost exact same wording is used In the case of King Solomon and Shimei, where Shimei was violently put to death for breaking the King’s command (1 Kings 2:37; 1 Kgs. 2:46).
Next, let’s look at “die.” As I noted in my previous post, “die” can denote the act of perishing or coming to an end, particularly in relation to a specific group or species. Essentially, they would go extinct. I believe this is what our key verse means by die.
In Amos 2:2, it was the nation of Moab that was destined to perish or “die” (see also Jer. 48:42). In the case of Israel, after believing the report from the “10 faithless spies,” God declared the end of that faithless generation (Num. 14:28-35). Those who were of a certain age would die in the wilderness until they were all extinct, except for Joshua and Caleb.
Additional support for this interpretation of “die” is found in Matthew 15:4 which uses the Greek verb teleutaō which means “finish, “complete,” or “accomplish,” but clearly means “die” in the context of the verse. (bold added for emphasis)
For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’( θανατω τελευτατω) (Matthew 15:4 NIV)
for God did command, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or mother — let him die the death; (θανατω τελευτατω) (Matt. 15:4 YLT)
Accordingly, I believe “θανατω τελευτατω” (thanato teleutato) here could be translated literally as “by death let him die,” or rather, “by execution, let him come to an end;” similar to the phrase in Genesis 2:17, “θανατω ἀποθανεῖσθε.”
Now, returning to our key verse, my final interpretation is as follows:
but you all must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because whenever you all eat from it, (it will be certain that) by execution mankind will perish (come to an end).
It has about as much certainty and emphasis for Solomon to tell Shemei, “By death, you will meet your end” as to say, “You shall surely/certainly die.” (1 Kings 2:37) The whole point is to say that, “You are not going to die naturally as is the case in the normal cycle of life, but rather you are going to be put to death—without a question.
So, ultimately, I believe God’s message to Adam serves as a warning, that if mankind partakes of the fruit from the forbidden tree, it will lead to a violent act, resulting in the extinction of humanity. “By execution, you all will come to an end.” I’ll elaborate on the reasoning in a future post, but for now, let’s evaluate this theory.
I believe the flood illustrates what God warned Adam about (Gen. 2:17). During the time of Noah, humanity indeed faced violent death because of sin, and if Noah hadn’t found favor in God’s sight, the human race would have perished. But, as a result of his grace, God spared Noah and his family, and through them, he repopulated the earth, establishing a covenant with the new generation (Gen. 8:20-9:17).
I perceive this moment as a crucial turning point, a time when God recognized some goodness in humanity despite our continuous wickedness (Gen. 6:5). And no, God didn’t lie about humanity’s destruction, as some would erroneously claim; rather he demonstrated mercy in judgement, something many of us fail to grasp.
Nevertheless, God remains steadfast in his promises (2 Ptr. 3:9). Humanity is still destined for extinction, specifically in the Lake of Fire.
Yet, he continues to extend mercy.
Those who’ve placed their trust in God through Jesus Christ, returning to him and earnestly following his teachings to the best of their abilities, like faithful Abraham, rather than relying on their own understanding as Adam and Eve did, can hold onto the hope of ultimately experiencing God’s salvation—His mercy in judgment.
Jesus, also known as Yeshua, meaning “salvation,” is destined to return and judge earth’s inhabitants. Both those who have died in faith and those who are alive and trust in him will be saved; that is, they will be “preserved” from destruction and resurrected into eternal life in a new form and existence.
The end of mankind is inevitable; this current species will perish. However, the faithful—those who cling to God’s salvation—will continue on by his grace. We will not remain as we are now; instead, we will be transformed (1 Cor. 15:52). While we can’t fully comprehend what we’ll become, we will somehow be like Jesus (1 John 3:2).
Conclusion
In conclusion, God’s caution to Adam, “you shall surely die,” as a result of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, doesn’t suggest an immediate spiritual or physical death. Rather, it refers to the ultimate fate awaiting all of humanity.
Through divine judgement, humanity’s existence, as we know it, would eventually come to an end if human beings ate from the tree in disobedience to the Lord’s commands.
With the flood this would have occurred. However, since Noah found grace in God’s eyes, the human race did not utterly perish or become extinct.
However, there will still be a divine judgement where the Lord separates the good from the bad, those who’ve accepted him from those who’ve rejected him, and those who have trusted him from those who’ve gone their own way, and the latter will unfortunately perish.
For some, this is a difficult truth to accept, especially for those who portray God as overly lenient. Nevertheless, this is the reality. One day, humanity as we know it will no longer exist when God removes all that causes sin and everyone who does evil (Matt. 13:41)
However, those who repent—that is, those who turn back to God in faith, trusting him alone as God and following his teachings, rather than relying on themselves or any other being —can hope to escape this certain destruction and be resurrected to new life at God’s appointed time.