Genesis 3.22 - interpretation
Q: Genesis 3:22 (RSV) says:
"...Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil..."
What does this mean ? Does it refer to both Adam and Eve ? Who are the "us" since God is one God ? Why does knowing good and evil make us like God ?
Any assistance is gratefully accepted.
The word "know" is a different form when the serpent uses it and when God does.
It also has the meaning of "declare".
By declaring what is good and evil for himself, rather than acknowledging God, he has made himself as God, being the measure of all things. This is why God is angry in Romans 1:18 ff. When we make the rules for ourselves rather than listen to what God says, we commit the same sin.
Being in his lost state, in open rebellion against God, had he been permitted to live forever, there would be rebellion for ever. -- Genesis 3:22 - interpretation Quote: Originally Posted by Prince Hal View Post Thank you for this. Are you able to expand at all ? Where do you get the meaning "declare" from.
I hope that you are able to answer. This is a very interesting thought.
Hal. Just from the dictionary:
03045 edy yada‘ yaw-dah’
a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 848}
AV-know 645, known 105, knowledge 19, perceive 18, shew 17, tell 8, wist 7, understand 7, certainly 7, acknowledge 6, acquaintance 6, consider 6, declare 6, teach 5, misc 85; 947
--- It made no sense to me that the serpent should tell the truth since he is the Father of lies. So I dug deeper.
There are four points to his lie. 1. You shall not die 2. Your eyes will be opened 3. You shall be like God 4. You shall know good and evil
Various groups claim that one or more of these points are true. But if you consider them closely, each point is both true and false depending whether you see it in the flesh or the spirit.
In the flesh: 1. They did not die but lived many years after 2. Their eyes were opened and they knew new things 3. They became self-determinate like God 4. They now had experienced both good and evil
In the spirit: 1. They died the same day they ate. God is not a liar. So they dies spiritually. When we are born in the image and likeness of Seth as he was of Adam, we are born with living bodies and 'dead' spirits which is why we must be born again. 2. They became blind just as 'the spirit of the age has blinded them' 3. They became slaves to sin and death. 4. They now could only do evil all day long, being slaves to sin.
Once we understand the double entendre of the lie, or how to lie by telling the truth, then the minority meaning for "to know" makes more sense when God uses it.
