CINXE.COM
Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded him, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded him, "You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/2-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/12/01_Gen_02_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 2:16 - Man and Woman in the Garden" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And the LORD God commanded him, You may eat freely from every tree of the garden," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/2-16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/2-16.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 16</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/2-15.htm" title="Genesis 2:15">◄</a> Genesis 2:16 <a href="/genesis/2-17.htm" title="Genesis 2:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may surely eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But the LORD told him, "You may eat fruit from any tree in the garden, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD God commanded the man. He said, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He told him, "You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD God commanded the man: "You may freely eat from every tree of the garden, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded him, ?You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And YHWH God lays a charge on the man, saying, “From every tree of the garden eating you eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jehovah God layeth a charge on the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden eating thou dost eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jehovah God will appoint to the man, saying, From every tree of the garden eating, thou shalt eat.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he commanded him, saying: Of every tree of paradise thou shalt eat: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he instructed him, saying: “From every tree of Paradise, you shall eat.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH God commanded Adam and said to him, “From all of the trees that are in Paradise you shall eat:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Lord God gave a charge to Adam, saying, Of every tree which is in the garden thou mayest freely eat,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/2-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=421" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/2.htm">Man and Woman in the Garden</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">15</span>Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">And the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6680.htm" title="6680: way·ṣaw (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order. A primitive root; to constitute, enjoin.">commanded</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: hā·’ā·ḏām (Art:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ’ā·ḵōl (V-Qal-InfAbs) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">“You may eat freely</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: tō·ḵêl (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: mik·kōl (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">from every</a> <a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: ‘êṣ- (N-msc) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">tree</a> <a href="/hebrew/1588.htm" title="1588: hag·gān (Art:: N-cs) -- An enclosure, garden. From ganan; a garden.">of the garden,</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/3-1.htm">Genesis 3:1-3</a></span><br />Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” / The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, / 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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/3-11.htm">Genesis 3:11</a></span><br />“Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17</a></span><br />And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/30-19.htm">Deuteronomy 30:19</a></span><br />I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-4.htm">Ezekiel 18:4</a></span><br />Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-20.htm">Ezekiel 18:20</a></span><br />The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Romans 5:12</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-17.htm">Romans 5:17</a></span><br />For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-23.htm">Romans 6:23</a></span><br />For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-21.htm">1 Corinthians 15:21-22</a></span><br />For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. / For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-45.htm">1 Corinthians 15:45</a></span><br />So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-14.htm">James 1:14-15</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/2-7.htm">Revelation 2:7</a></span><br />He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/22-14.htm">Revelation 22:14</a></span><br />Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-4.htm">Matthew 4:4</a></span><br />But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat:</p><p class="hdg">God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">1 Samuel 15:22</a></b></br> And Samuel said, Hath the LORD <i>as great</i> delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey <i>is</i> better than sacrifice, <i>and</i> to hearken than the fat of rams.</p><p class="hdg">thou mayest freely eat.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/2-9.htm">Genesis 2:9</a></b></br> And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-1.htm">Genesis 3:1,2</a></b></br> Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_timothy/4-4.htm">1 Timothy 4:4</a></b></br> For every creature of God <i>is</i> good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/21-12.htm">Charge</a> <a href="/revelation/9-4.htm">Commanded</a> <a href="/revelation/19-18.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/revelation/2-20.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/genesis/2-15.htm">Elohim</a> <a href="/revelation/22-17.htm">Free</a> <a href="/revelation/22-17.htm">Freely</a> <a href="/genesis/1-29.htm">Fruit</a> <a href="/genesis/2-15.htm">Garden</a> <a href="/luke/15-5.htm">Layeth</a> <a href="/revelation/22-10.htm">Mayest</a> <a href="/revelation/14-12.htm">Orders</a> <a href="/genesis/2-9.htm">Tree</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/12-20.htm">Charge</a> <a href="/genesis/3-11.htm">Commanded</a> <a href="/genesis/2-17.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/genesis/2-17.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/genesis/2-18.htm">Elohim</a> <a href="/genesis/24-8.htm">Free</a> <a href="/genesis/43-34.htm">Freely</a> <a href="/genesis/2-17.htm">Fruit</a> <a href="/genesis/3-1.htm">Garden</a> <a href="/numbers/27-23.htm">Layeth</a> <a href="/genesis/4-7.htm">Mayest</a> <a href="/genesis/12-20.htm">Orders</a> <a href="/genesis/2-17.htm">Tree</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/2-1.htm">The first Sabbath.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/2-4.htm">Further details concerning the manner of creation.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/2-8.htm">The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/2-15.htm">man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge forbidden.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/2-18.htm">The animals are named by Adam.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/2-21.htm">The making of woman, and the institution of marriage.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And the LORD God commanded him</b><br>This phrase highlights the authority and sovereignty of God as the Creator. The use of "LORD God" combines the personal name of God, Yahweh, with Elohim, emphasizing both His covenant relationship and His power. The act of commanding indicates a direct communication from God to man, establishing a divine order and expectation. This sets a precedent for the relationship between God and humanity, where God provides guidance and instruction. The command also reflects the concept of divine law, which is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, seen in the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 5-7).<p><b>“You may eat freely from every tree of the garden”</b><br>This phrase underscores God's provision and generosity. The garden, likely located in the region of Mesopotamia, is depicted as a place of abundance and sustenance. The permission to eat freely from every tree, except one, signifies the freedom and blessings bestowed upon humanity. This reflects God's desire for humans to enjoy His creation and live in harmony with it. The concept of a garden as a place of divine-human interaction is echoed in the imagery of the New Jerusalem in <a href="/revelation/22.htm">Revelation 22</a>, where the tree of life reappears. The freedom given here is a precursor to the freedom found in Christ, who offers spiritual nourishment and life (<a href="/john/6-35.htm">John 6:35</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord_god.htm">The LORD God</a></b><br>The Creator, who is sovereign and authoritative, giving commands to His creation. The term "LORD God" combines "Yahweh" (YHWH) and "Elohim," emphasizing both His covenantal and powerful nature.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/adam.htm">Adam</a></b><br>The first man, created by God, who is the recipient of God's command. He represents humanity in its original state of innocence and responsibility.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_garden_of_eden.htm">The Garden of Eden</a></b><br>A place of perfection and provision, where God placed Adam. It symbolizes God's abundant provision and the ideal environment for human flourishing.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/command.htm">Command</a></b><br>The directive given by God to Adam, highlighting the relationship between God and man, where God provides and man obeys.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/trees_of_the_garden.htm">Trees of the Garden</a></b><br>Representing God's provision and generosity, allowing Adam to enjoy the fruits of creation with the exception of one tree, which is specified in the following verse.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_generosity.htm">God's Generosity</a></b><br>Recognize that God is generous and provides abundantly for our needs. We should trust in His provision and be grateful for His blessings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Understand that God's commands are given for our good. Obedience leads to life and blessing, while disobedience leads to consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/freedom_with_boundaries.htm">Freedom with Boundaries</a></b><br>Appreciate the freedom God gives us within the boundaries He sets. These boundaries are for our protection and well-being.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/stewardship_of_creation.htm">Stewardship of Creation</a></b><br>As Adam was given the responsibility to care for the garden, we are called to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_choice.htm">The Importance of Choice</a></b><br>Reflect on the choices we make daily and their alignment with God's will. Our choices have significant spiritual and practical implications.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_decision_making.htm">What does the Bible say about decision making?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_free_will.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on free will?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_adam_and_eve_die_due_to_sin.htm">Did Adam and Eve die due to sin?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_free_will_in_heaven.htm">Is there free will in heaven?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16, 17) <span class= "bld">The Lord God commanded.</span>--Probation is the law of man's moral condition now, and it began in Paradise, only the conditions there were different. (See <span class= "ital">Excursus </span>at end of this book.)<p><span class= "bld">In the day. . . . --</span>Used, as in <a href="/genesis/2-4.htm" title="These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,">Genesis 2:4</a>, for an indefinitely long period. But just as on the third day God gave the whole law of vegetation, though trees as the highest development of that law may not have been reached until after the appearance of animal life on the earth, so the law of man's mortal life came into existence with the eating of the forbidden fruit. Contemporaneously with that act, man passed from the paradisiacal state, with the possibility of living for ever, into the mortal state, with the certainty sooner or later of dying. It was a new condition and constitution of things which then commenced, and to which not Adam only, but also his posterity was subject. And thus this command resembles the words of Elohim in the first chapter. By them the fundamental laws of the material universe were given and established for all time; and the word of Jehovah-Elohim equally here was a law, not for the day only on which Adam broke the command, but for all men everywhere as long as the world shall last.<p><span class= "bld">EXCURSUS A: UPON THE PROBATION OF ADAM</span> (Chap. 2:16).<p>The great object for which the world is constituted such as we actually find it to be is evidently the trial and probation of man's moral nature. We cannot wonder, therefore, at finding Adam subject to a probation; and even if he had remained innocent we have no right to suppose that his posterity would always have withstood temptation, or that the world would not finally have become such in the main as it is now. But the manner of Adam's probation was different. In Paradise he had unlimited freedom, except in one small particular, and no promptings of his own nature urged him to take delight in disobedience and sin. But if thus he was free from passion, on the other hand his conscience was undeveloped, even if it could be said to exist at all in one who did not know the difference between good and evil. He was devoid, too, of experience, and his reason must have been in a state as rudimentary as his conscience. For as there was no struggle between passion and conscience, man had not then learned to choose between opposing ends and purposes, as he has now. Nevertheless, Adam was an intellectual being. He must have had a deep knowledge of natural history; for doubtless he called the animals after their natures. In <a href="/genesis/2-23.htm" title="And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.">Genesis 2:23</a> he calls his wife <span class= "ital">Ishah, </span>and himself <span class= "ital">Ish. </span>Now, this name signifies a <span class= "ital">being, </span>and in so calling himself Adam seems to claim for man that he is the one creature upon earth conscious of his own existence. And when Eve appears he simply adds a feminine termination to the name, recognising her thereby as the female counterpart of himself; but in so doing he shows a mastery of language, and the power of inflecting words according to the rules of grammar. There is proof, after the fall, of even increased insight into the nature of things; for in the name Eve, <span class= "ital">life, </span>Adam plainly recognised in her difference of sex the Divinely-appointed means for the maintenance of human life upon earth. But man now, to balance the corruption of his nature, has, in addition to intellect, the help of conscience, of increased knowledge and experience of the effects of sin, and of largely developed reason. Devoid of such assistance, a difficult probation, such as is the lot of mankind now, would apparently have been beyond the power of Adam to sustain; whereas, had he not been tempted from without, he might easily, with his passions as yet unstirred, and most of his intellectual gifts still dormant, have endured the simple trial to which he was subjected. But temptation from without was permitted, and Adam fell.<p>It would be easy to lose ourselves in reasoning upon the possibilities involved in Adam's trial; but there are points upon which there can be no doubt. First, if probation is the normal law of our condition now, it would be just as right and equitable to make Adam subject to a probation. And alike for Adam then and for men now, probation seems to be a necessary condition of the existence of beings endowed with free will. Secondly, the fall was not all loss; St. Paul affirms this with reference to the gift of a Saviour (<a href="/context/romans/5-17.htm" title="For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)">Romans 5:17-19</a>). And besides this, higher qualities are called into existence now than were possible in the case of one who had no experimental knowledge of evil. We may even say that in giving this command Jehovah was appealing to qualities still dormant in Adam; and this exercise of the Divine attribute of foreknowledge makes us sure that the Divine purpose was to develop these qualities: not necessarily, however, by the fall, for they would have been to some extent exercised by resisting temptation. Thirdly, Adam, had he remained innocent, could nevertheless have attained to no higher happiness than such as was possible for a being in a rudimentary and passionless state of existence. He would have attained to the perfection of innocence, of pure physical enjoyment, and of even large scientific knowledge; but his moral nature would have developed very slowly, and its profounder depths would have remained unstirred. He would have been a happy grown-up child, not a proved and perfected man. The sufferings of this fallen world are intense (<a href="/romans/8-22.htm" title="For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.">Romans 8:22</a>), but the product in those who use their probation aright, is probably higher than any product of Paradise could have been. The holiness attained to by Eloah, the seventh from Adam, was of a different and higher kind than the most perfect innocence of a being who had been called to make no earnest struggle; for it was as the gold tried in the fire (<a href="/1_peter/1-7.htm" title="That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:">1Peter 1:7</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 16, 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Jehovah Elohim commanded the man</span> (Adam), <span class="cmt_word">saying</span>. Whether or not these were the first words listened to by man (Murphy), they clearly presuppose the person to whom they were addressed to have had the power of understanding language, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> of interpreting vocal sounds, and representing to his own mind the conceptions or ideas of which they were the signs, a degree of intellectual development altogether incompatible with modern evolution theories. They likewise assume the pre-existence of a moral nature which could recognize the distinction between "<span class="accented">thou</span> shalt" and "<span class="accented">thou</span> shalt not." <span class="cmt_word">Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat</span>; literally, eating, thou shalt eat. Adam, it thus appears, was permitted to partake of the tree of life; not, however, as a means of either conferring or preserving immortality, which was already his by Divine gift, and the only method of conserving which recognized by the narrative was abstaining from the tree of knowledge; but as a symbol and guarantee of that immortality with which he had been endowed, and which would continue to be his so long as he maintained his personal integrity. This, of course, by the very terms of his existence, he was under obligation to do, apart altogether from any specific enactment which God might enjoin. As a moral being, he had the law written on his conscience. But, as if to give a visible embodiment to that law, and at the same time to test his allegiance to his Maker's will, which is the kernel of all true obedience, an injunction was laid upon him of a positive description - <span class="cmt_word">But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it</span>. Speculations as to what kind of tree it was, whether a vine, a fig, or an apple tree, are more curious than profitable. There is no reason to suppose that any noxious or lethiferous properties resided in its fruit. The death that was to follow on transgression was to spring from the <span class="accented">eating</span>, and not from the fruit; from the sinful act, and not from the creature, which in itself was good. The prohibition laid on Adam was for the time being a summary of the Divine law. Hence the tree was a sign and symbol of what that law required. And in this, doubtless, lies the explanation of its name. It was a concrete representation of that fundamental distinction between right and wrong, duty and sin, which lies at the basis of all responsibility. It interpreted for the first pair those great moral intuitions which had been implanted in their natures, and by which it was intended they should regulate their lives. Thus it was for them a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It brought out that knowledge which they already possessed into the clear light of definite conviction and precept, connecting it at the same time with the Divine will as its source and with themselves as its end. Further, it was an intelligible declaration of the duty which that knowledge of good and evil imposed upon them. Through its penalty it likewise indicated both the good which would be reaped by obedience and the evil which would follow on transgression. <span class="cmt_word">For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die</span>; literally, dying, thou shalt die. That this involved death physical, or the dissolution of the body, is indicated by the sentence pronounced on Adam after he had fallen (<a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Genesis 3:19</a>). That the sentence was hot immediately executed does not disprove its reality. It only suggests that its suspension may have been due to some Divine interposition. Yet universal experience attests that permanent escape from its execution is impossible. In the case of Adam it was thus far put in force on the instant, that henceforth he ceased to be immortal. As prior to his fall his immortality was sure, being authenticated for him by the tree of life, so now, subsequent to that catastrophe, his mortality was certain. This, more than immediateness, is what the language implies. For the complete theological significance of this penalty see <a href="/genesis/3-19.htm">Genesis 3:19</a>. <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/2-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">commanded</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְצַו֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·ṣaw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6680.htm">Strong's 6680: </a> </span><span class="str2">To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[him],</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאָדָ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“You may eat freely</span><br /><span class="heb">אָכֹ֥ל</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḵōl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from every</span><br /><span class="heb">מִכֹּ֥ל</span> <span class="translit">(mik·kōl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tree</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵֽץ־</span> <span class="translit">(‘êṣ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tree, trees, wood</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the garden,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַגָּ֖ן</span> <span class="translit">(hag·gān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1588.htm">Strong's 1588: </a> </span><span class="str2">An enclosure, garden</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/2-16.htm">Genesis 2:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/2-16.htm">OT Law: Genesis 2:16 Yahweh God commanded the man saying (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/2-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 2:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 2:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/2-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 2:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 2:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>