Keraia
Genesis 3

Genesis 3:19

The Punishment of Mankind · Genesis 3:16–20
Read Genesis 3

Translations

Modern
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Traditional
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Literal
By the sweat of your nose you shall eat bread, until your returning to the ground, for from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Latin
In sudore vultus tui vesceris pane, donec revertaris in terram de qua sumptus es: quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris.

Original

Hebrew
English
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

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.

Events

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 Divorce Earth Evil Fall of Man Fear Genesis, Book of Hell Jubilee Year Judgment Land Man Mesopotamia Monotheism Paradise Patriarchs, Period of the Remnant Suffering Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Woman Work

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Consequent Upon the Fall Afflictions: Consequent Upon the Fall Agriculture or Farming: Rendered Laborious by the Curse on the Earth Agriculture: Divine Institution of Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Burying the Dead Corruption: Physical Decomposition: After Death Curse: Denounced: Against Adam and Eve Death: Miscellaneous Subjects: Returning to Dust Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Dust: Man Made From Embalming: An Attempt to Defeat God's Purpose Fall of Man: General Scriptures Concerning Gain the Whole World God: Appearances of To Adam Ground: Man Made From Judgments: Adam Labor: General Scriptures Concerning Man: Punished for Disobedience Natural Death by Adam Natural Death is Described as Returning to Dust Natural Life: Forfeited by Sin Organ Donation Sin: Fruits of Sin: Punishment of Sin: Toil and Sorrow Originated In Sweat: General Scriptures Concerning Temptation: Yielding to Adam and Eve The Earth: Man: Shall Return To The Fall The Fall of Man: Punishment Consequent Upon: Condemnation to Labour and Sorrow The Fall of Man: Punishment Consequent Upon: Temporal Death The Immortal Soul Wicked (People): Punishment of