Genesis 3:22 (WEB)
The LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—”
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Genesis 3:22 (KJV)
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:
Key words
- עֵץ הַחַיִּיםets hachayyim · Hebrew
- 'the tree of life' — the tree whose fruit gives unending life; the couple had been free to eat of it (2:16).
- וָחַי לְעֹלָםvachay le'olam · Hebrew
- 'and live for ever' — what Adam and Eve forfeit by being barred from the tree.
Why it matters
After the fall, God bars the way to the tree of life 'lest he… live for ever.' Pitre uses this to show that Adam and Eve were created not only sinless but with access to immortality, and that death is a loss, not the original design (pp 22–23). The point matters twice over: the New Eve's freedom from sin restores the first state, and the Ark's incorruption points to the body of Mary kept from the corruption of the grave. Note: on p 18 Pitre cites this verse for the phrase 'mother of all the living,' which is actually Genesis 3:20.
Fathers and councils · 14
Tertullian
“In the following passage, however, “Behold the man is become as one of us,” He is either deceiving or amusing us in speaking plurally, if He is One only and singular.” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
Read the whole comment“Then and there hastening to forecover what, in his newly made body, it was not yet due to modesty (to forecover), he surrounds himself meantime with fig-leaves: subsequently, on being driven from the confines of his birthplace because he had sinned, he went, skinclad, to the world as to a mine.” — editor's note: i.e., a place which he was to work, as condemned criminals worked mines. Comp. de Pu., c. xxii. sub init.; and see Gen. ii. 25 (in LXX. iii. 1), iii. 7, 21–24.
Read the whole comment“…embraces, ultimately to stand forth to view, like Adam when summoned to hear from his Lord and Creator the words, “Behold, the man is become as one of us!”—thoroughly “knowing” by that time “the evil” which she had escaped, “and the good” which she has acquired.” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
Read the whole comment“Now, although Adam was by reason of his condition under law subject to death, yet was hope preserved to him by the Lord’s saying, “Behold, Adam is become as one of us;” that is, in consequence of the future taking of the man into the divine nature.” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22. [II. Peter, i. 4.]
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“The Tree of life, therefore was planted in the earth, that the earth which had been cursed might enjoy the blessing, and that the dead might be released.” — editor's note: Gen. ii. 9; iii. 22. Methodius (Sympos. ix. c. 3): “He that hath not believed in Christ, nor hath understood that He is the first principle and the Tree of…
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XIII.12Conference XIII
“And, in this case how will that first statement of the Lord made about men after the fall stand: “Behold, Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil?”” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
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Justin Martyr
“These are the words: ‘And God said, Behold, Adam has become as one of us, to know good and evil.’” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
Read the whole comment“Again, when the Scripture records that God said in the beginning, ‘Behold, Adam has become like one of Us,’ this phrase, ‘like one of Us,’ is also indicative of number; and the words do not admit of a figurative meaning, as the sophists endeavour to affix on them,…” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Adam became strong, over whom was reproachfully said, “Behold, Adam hath become like one of us.”…As though they were strong, “to the righteousness of God they have not been made subject.”” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
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John Chrysostom
“…expecting to become a god, he lost even what he had; and God also upbraiding him with this, and mocking his folly, said, “Behold, Adam is become as one of us”; and each one of those that came after did hereby wreck himself in impiety, fancying some equality with God:—since, I say, this was the stronghold of our…” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22.
Read the whole comment“And this He saith unto them in irony; as when He said, “Behold, Adam is become as one of us;”and again, “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee.”” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 22, LXX.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
“(Gen. 3:22.)” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Whence we may suppose that He is speaking ironically, as when it is said, “Behold now Adam is become as one of us.” [Gen 3:22] For that there is none righteous on earth Paul shews, “All have sinned, and need glory of God.” [Rom 3:23] By this saying He also consoled those who…” — the author cites it
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“This is why the heathen rage and the peoples imagine vain things; why tree is set over against tree, hands against hand, the one stretched out in self indulgence, the others in generosity; the one unrestrained, the others fixed by nails, the one expelling Adam, the other reconciling the ends of the earth.” — editor's note: Gen. iii. 6–23.
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Cross-references · 23
Cited together in The Five Books Against Marcion II.25.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 62.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 62.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 62.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 129.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 63.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 9:9–13 (9) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Five Books Against Marcion II.25.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Luke 5:27–32 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Luke 5:27–32 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Luke 5:27–32 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 63.
Cited together in On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 63.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 9:9–13 (9) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in The Five Books Against Marcion II.25.
Cited together in The Five Books Against Marcion II.25.
Cited together in The Five Books Against Marcion II.25.
Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 12.
Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 12.
Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 12.
Cited together in Against Praxeas Chapter 12.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 62 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 62.