Genesis 3:17

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Literal

And to the man He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and ate from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘you shall not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground on your account, in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life,

Latin

Adæ vero dixit: Quia audisti vocem uxoris tuæ, et comedisti de ligno, ex quo præceperam tibi ne comederes, maledicta terra in opere tuo: in laboribus comedes ex ea cunctis diebus vitæ tuæ.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Genesis 3:17–19

God emphasized his first command not to eat the fruit by mentioning eating several times in 3:17–19. The judgment made it harder for humans to get food. This matched their sin of eating what God had forbidden.
cursed is the ground: The man's relationship with the ground (see study note on 2:7) became hostile as judgment affected his main role (2:5, 15). He must work hard to cultivate the ground, but with less success than before. Human sin impacts all of creation (see 4:12; 6:7; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 11:13–17, 28; Romans 8:22).

Genesis 3:14–19

God judged the serpent, woman, and man because of their sin. Each received a punishment specific to their actions. Their important relationships changed. God is fair in judgment, not unpredictable. Each punishment matches the sin.

Genesis 3:1–24

When the man and woman rebelled against God, it disrupted their harmony with the earth, animals, each other, and God.

Theme notes and profiles

Adam and Eve Community Responsibility: Achan’s Sin Human Sexuality Marriage and Sexuality Promised Land Retribution Sin Enters the World Symbolic Numbers The Creation The Dangers of Sin The Day Is Coming The Purpose of the Sinai Covenant The Tabernacle Women’s Roles in the New Testament Church

Events

The Fallc. 4004 BC

Related verses

Romans 8:20–22
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope
Genesis 5:29
And he named him Noah, saying, “May this one comfort us in the labor and toil of our hands caused by the ground that the LORD has cursed.”
Isaiah 24:5–6
The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant.
Ecclesiastes 2:22–23
For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Job 14:1
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
Jeremiah 7:23–24
…but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.
Ecclesiastes 5:17
Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.
Psalm 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Genesis 2:16–17
And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,
Job 21:17
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?
Job 5:6–7
For distress does not spring from the dust, and trouble does not sprout from the ground.

People

Adam: The first man, created by God

Glossary

Adam (Person) Apocalyptic Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Book of Revelation Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Creation Myths Curse, Cursed Discipline Earth Evil Fall of Man Fear Genesis, Book of Hell Judgment Lamech Land Man Mesopotamia Monotheism New Creation, New Creature Paradise Patriarchs, Period of the Remnant Suffering Thistle, Thorn Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Woman Work

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Consequent Upon the Fall Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Afflictions: Consequent Upon the Fall Agriculture or Farming: Rendered Laborious by the Curse on the Earth Creation Groans Curse: Denounced: Against Adam and Eve Curse: Denounced: Against the Ground Earth: Cursed of God Fall of Man: General Scriptures Concerning God: Appearances of To Adam Ground: Cursed Judgments: Adam Man: Punished for Disobedience Natural Life: Forfeited by Sin Sin: Fruits of Sin: Punishment of Sin: The Ground Was Cursed on Account of Sin: Toil and Sorrow Originated In Temptation: Yielding to Adam and Eve The Earth: Man: Brought a Curse On The Fall Tree of Knowledge Wicked (People): Punishment of

Genesis 3:17

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