The tree of life and the tree of knowledge is worthy to invest time in studying of one scripture

portion very complicated to be understood.

Summary
Is undeniable that there are many myths Gén 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the
around God, his creation, and the relation man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou
among original sin, serpent, life and spiritual mayest freely eat:
consequences after that. This paper will Gén 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of
provide shreds of evidence about the origins good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the
and relevant information related to this day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
controversial topic concerned to "the trees" die.
and their meaning for the human being,
believer or not. In addition, remark the suitable Many questions came to our minds when this
way to research the bible supported in passage is read. Such as, why God created a tree
fundamental principles in which with logical of good and evil? Is this tree real or fiction? To eat
and reasonable way allows us to take the of it is a real action or is an Oriental phrase? Adam
bible as an integral information without was created perfectly. Did God need to prove him?
contradictions.
If would exist a tiny possibility to believe that
Many denominations in the world argue that God allowed to grow up the tree of knowledge of
God give us proves and they have justified their evil and good, God would be the father or creator
unsupported declarations, extracting wrongly of good and evil, so God is not light and there is
isolated verses from the Bible. All these scriptures dark in Him and the Bible would fall apart.
parts provide apparently arguments when these Nevertheless, this conclusion is in contrast to 1
are read quickly and without serious studying. John 1:5 which is true.

Ones of the believer-Christian duties is to Until now, those two verses neither confirm
research the bible seriously, to investigate useful neither that God was the responsible creator of this
information in order to seek the true according to specific kind of tree nor say that God is not
fundamental principles; such as, God does not responsible. In simple words, nor confirm neither
have contradiction in himself due that God is light deny anything. Actually, in the verse, which will be
and in him is no darkness at all, bible is given by shown and analysed, could lead to deduce that
inspiration of God, the bible interprets itself and God is its creator after just a superficial view.
others.
Gén 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD
Apparent contradictions in the bible occur by God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the
the following factors, lack of knowledge in some sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in
parts of the scripture when is hurriedly read, when the midst of the garden, and the tree of
are based on private interpretation, inaccurate knowledge of good and evil.
translations and/or in the human understanding. All
these detrimental factors could be hedged when Before to explain this verse, is important to
the Bible is taken in its original revelation and at in analyse carefully part by part. Above all, the
parallel is understood in its entirety. second part of this scripture because on it, there is
an apparent contradiction between the connection
The Bible is clear and direct. For someone of the creation of trees by God (God permitted to
that wants to communicate something is very grow up every tree) and the others two trees.
important to keep his or her message in a
crystalline and straight manner. Only for those, that If Christians believe in this verse like is written
wants to be controversial can express their there will an inconsistency between two points:
thoughts ambiguously and with the certain grade of God is light and God is the maker of the tree of
contradiction or sarcastic form. good and evil. However, with researching of Holy
Scriptures and with supporting of collateral books
The human being is unclear, inaccurate, this apparent ambiguity will be clarified.
unpredictable, and incomprehensible in many
fields; in contrast, God is light and in him is no First, is necessary to understand this verse
darkness at all, simple. Mentioned these highlights, logically and clearly in order to stand firm in that
Word of God is pureness, perfection and integrity.
Two aspects should be explained before to go
forward. One of them is the concept of EAT in Gen b) To Eat, according to Strong J (n.d. p. 12)
2:17 and what meaning of TREE in Gen 2:9 in this H398 ‫' אכל‬âkal aw-kal' A primitive root; to
part of this verse. eat (literally or figuratively): - X at all, burn
up, consume, devour (-er, up), dine, eat (-
a) The Tree, in the oriental culture the trees er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in . . .
have a relevant meaning in citizen wise (-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quiet.
lifestyles in the times of the bible.
According to Bishop Pillai, KC (1984 p. 9) Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did
explains that likely the persons use eat them; and thy word was unto me the
analogies with trees in order to express joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am
advice, or explain the situation of their life, called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts
such as olives plant in:
Pro 13:2 A man shall eat good by the fruit
Psalm 128: 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful of his mouth: but the soul of the
vine by the sides of thine house: thy transgressors shall eat violence
children like olive plants round about thy
table. In the first example is clear that Jeremias
not eaten the written paper pieces of the
Pillai affirms that “Unlike the palm tree, the bible, he took and applied them in his life
olive tree stops producing fruit in its old as rule or norm of practice. The second
age. This happens after about 50 years, one, the word "fruit" on it, is not eatables
but the tree does not die. Little olive fruits, contrary means that person will
plants sprout up around it. They produce suffer the consequences of her or his
fruit and grow until they hold up the old mouth pronounces and sinners will
experiment violence. Individuals cannot
tree, supporting it from the wind and
touch the violence due is untouchable, but
other elements. In the East, children they can perceive it and suffer it.
support their parents in old age, much
like the little olive trees. To have children “Tree of knowledge of good and evil or of life”
like olive plants around your table was are not real trees like a big tree in the bushes or in
considered a great blessing” (Pillai KC domestic gardens at home. This is impossible to
1984 p. 10). take the real fruit of it. At the time, Adam and Eve
could not eat its fruit physically, that was an internal
“Tree” comes from the Hebrew word battle in the field mind very hard and intense due
according to Strong J (n.d. p. 90) H6086 this was a direct confrontation with the devil, satan.
‫‛עץ‬êts ates; from H6095; a tree (from its
firmness); hence wood (plural sticks): - + Second, at this stage, is necessary to explain
carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, the meanings of "tree of life” and on the other
staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. hand, tree of knowledge of good and evil”

Some examples of its usage: According to E.W. Bullinger (1898, p. 996)

explains an important figure of speech called THE
Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that GENITIVE – in its usage of RELATION AND
lay hold upon her: and happy is every one OBJECT and he argues that “This is perhaps the
that retaineth her. most interesting of all the usages. It offers a great
variety in the manner of expressing the peculiar
The practice of the word “tree” is varied
according to evidence of researchers.
relation intended, and this relation can be
Likely, in some parts of the bible and in gathered only from the context, and from the
different situations is used as the reference general analogy of Scripture truth. It must be
as to real tree in gardens that producing borne in mind that it is often impossible to define
fruits eatables or workable, on the other and determine the exact sense, in which the
hand as an effective analogy in genitive case is used. And very frequently it may
comparison with real human be used in more senses than one. For example,
circumstances.
´the Gospel of Christ´ may either refer to origin – different, signification, not a second thing or idea)
the Gospel, which has Christ for its author- or intensifies it by being changed (if a noun) into an
relation, which has Christ for its subject. Both in adjective of the superlative degree, which is, by
Hebrew and Greek great attention must be paid this means, made especially emphatic. The figure
to the presence or absence of the article, in is truly Oriental and exceedingly picturesque. It is
judging of the sense”. found in Latin as well as in Hebrew and Greek
and is very frequently used in both Old and New
The figure occurs exactly in the phrase “tree Testaments.
of life” which means “preserved life”. Into the The two words are of the same parts of speech:
same book, exists a variety of examples of this
i.e., two nouns (or two verbs) always joined
figure. For instance (E.W. Bullinger 1898, p.p. 997,
999): together by the conjunction ‘and’. The two nouns
are always in the same case. (E.W. Bullinger 1898,
Eze 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away p. 657)”
every man the abominations of his eyes, and
defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I In Gen 2:9 is found in the phrase “tree of
am the LORD your God. knowledge of good and evil” and its connotation
is “…of evil enjoyment”. There examples or
Literally, this phrase means, “abominations usages of this figure in other parts of the scripture.
pleasing in his eyes” For instance (E.W. Bullinger 1898, p.p. 660, 661):

Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have 1Cr 22:5 And David said, Solomon my son is
a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. young and tender, and the house that is to be
built for the LORD must be exceeding
Literally, this phrase means, “a zeal for God, or magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout
with respect to Him” all countries: I will therefore now make
preparation for it. So, David prepared
The meaning is not literal and this is relevant abundantly before his death.
in order to separate these two parts into of this
verse studied in a relation of these two groups of Literally, this phrase means, “glorious fame”
trees in each part mentioned.
Sal 116:1 I love the LORD because he hath
In this part, the bible says that God heard my voice and my supplications.
established the physical and biology rules for
existences of creation and genetic structures of Literally, this phrase means, “my supplicating
all created things until this stage in which voice, (which emphasise on supplicating)”
would be preserved the LIFE. In this phase is
included to the human being as well as to animal Nowadays, societies use numerous idiomatic
and vegetable species. expressions because in some cultures is more
effective when people have the same background
When God said "the man was formed from the and to understand the cultural environment. For
dust", He argues that naturally the human being is instance, in occidental’s cultures is used an
based on the same indissoluble rules of all expression such as "costs an arm and a leg” and
creation. Nevertheless, according to Gen 1:26 says this figure of speech is used when something is
that He had created spirit over him and the human very expensive and nobody thinks that have to pay
being was or became a spiritual being, like his with their limbs because to think that is illogical.
image and his likeness. When the Bible says something should be taken in
logical thinking and only when the concepts or
A relevant argument revealed by E.W. interpretation that bible makes for itself has an
Bullinger (1898, p. 659) about another figure of accurate connection with the word of God in its
speech called HENDIADYS, two words used, but entirety, could be said that this is true. Otherwise,
one thing meant – in its usage of NOUNS. He students will find isolated parts in the bible without
explains “two words employed, but only one thing, relation at all; in this case, would exist a high
or idea, intended. One of the two words expresses probability that many people give his or her own
interpretation and will get assumptions about the
the thing, and the other (of synonymous, or even
bible and this will have more relevance than biblical According to James Strong (n.d. p. 27) the
truth. word “also” become from the Hebrew original
word: 1571 ‫ גַּם‬gam, and demonstrate many
As could be seen, God declares that there is a usages of this word, such as:
possibility of "evil enjoyment" in the garden, due
the existence of fallen angel, satan. God wanted to Gen 19:21 And he said unto him, See, I have
anticipate this potential evil source, which could accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I
have effects in the future spiritual order of the will not overthrow this city, for the which thou
whole creation including the human. hast spoken.

God mentioned the features of the field in HEB: ‫אתי ָּפ ֶ֔ניָך גַּ֖ם לַדָּ ָּ ָ֣בר הַ זֶּ֑ה‬
ִ ‫נ ָּ ָָּ֣ש‬
which the man, the human being, will need to play
and to be aware of spiritual and natural (Interlinear Hebrew-English: grant
consequences if he takes the wrong option, due thee also request this)
that God created unbreakable rules and laws and
one of them was will free of men. Gén 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust
of the earth: so that if a man can number the
Summarising, Gen 2:9 has two parts on it. The dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be
first part is about real trees and useful for eat and numbered.
to provide human being sustainability. On the other
hand, the verse mentions two trees one is the tree
HEB: ‫עֲ ַ ָ֣פר הָּ אֶָּ֔ רץ ג ַּֽם־ ז ְַרעֲ ָך י ִמָּ נ ֶֽה׃‬
of life and the other is a tree of knowledge of good
and evil, which no are real trees. These two
types refer to natural rules established by God (Interlinear Hebrew-English: the dust of the
in its creation until that moment and presence earth also your descendants be numbered)
of evil through satan, respectively.
As has been shown, the word “also” in
Unfortunately, this verse still has a part of Hebrew has a special visual form for to be
confusion due that at first reading shows relation recognised. According to Hebrew-English
about the source of responsibility for their creation. Interlinear ESV Old Testament: Hebrew bible
Stuttgartensia (n.d. p. 7) this verse Gen 2:9
Gén 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD appears as is shown in the following figure: (the
God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the reading should be from the right to the left, contrary
sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in to Occidental reading)
the midst of the garden and the tree of
knowledge of good and evil.

Researches can start to play with the position

of the word "also" based on inexistence of
punctuation marks in the Hebrew language. For
instance, if a biblical student changes this word and
places it up between the word "food” and “;”, the
meaning will change dramatically and these two
parts of the verse stay disconnected.

Gén 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD Does not exist Hebrew word that supports the
God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the existence of the word “ALSO”. The translators
sight, and good for food also; the tree of life in added the word “also” as well as a few others
the midst of the garden, and the tree of crucial cases in the bible in controversial points and
knowledge of good and evil. many of them happened several years ago.
Moreover, the book provides an alternative
However, academically exists a more relevant translation apart from the interlinear translation in
information to provide the solution to this verse and English, which presents the word "was" instead of
clarify it. The connection occurs based on the word "also", connotation in past time; which means that
“also”. has existed a period between these two types of
trees.
 the tree of life in the midst of the garden,
and the tree of learning the knowledge of
good and evil.

There are many evidences, which

demonstrate and provide supporting that the word
also” not exist in the original manuscripts, was
If this word would be erased from this verse, added. In addition, there several alternative
this would look as the following form: versions of this verse in where the content is
cleared and unbiased.
Gén 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD
God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the The shown evidence confirm that God never
sight, and good for food; the tree of life in the created evil through any tree in order to prove his
midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge most beautiful creation, the man with his spirit. The
of good and evil. evil existed due to satan as fallen spiritual angel,
was its creator.
To understand this is crucial, the first tree in
the second part of this verse, the tree of life, refers Of this way, the bible makes its own
to all first part of this verse, including to human interpretation of itself about this controversial verse
being. "In the midst" means that all preservation of and has relation to the fundamental principles and
the life of the creation is based on the unbreakable with the concept about God is light and in Him no
rules that God established at the beginnings. In darkness at all.
contrast, the evil presence apart and in isolation.
Two things apart. Explained version of Gén 2:9 would be:

We can read others alternative versions in “And out of the ground made the LORD God made
English, such as: to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and
good for food; the unbreakable rules of his
1. Standard English version, digital version creation that support the natural life were in the
for e-sword software: Gén 2:9 And out of the midst of the garden and, due its creator the
ground the LORD God made to spring up every serpent, the presence of evil and the possibility
tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for of evil enjoyment”.
food. The tree of life was in the midst of the
garden, and the tree of the knowledge of After this, Adam sinned and disobeyed God.
good and evil. Dr Wierwille V. (1971, p. 265) declares, “When
Adam disobeyed the condition set by God
2. Darby Bible 1889, digital version for e- something occurred to establish physical death
sword software: Gén 2:9 And out of the ground
within man. Whenever we break the spiritual
Jehovah Elohim made every tree grow that is
pleasant to the sight and good for food; and the laws of God, we bring to ourselves physical
tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and calamities”
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the
3. Contemporary English version, digital man is become as one of us, to know good and
version for e-sword software: Gén 2:9 The evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and
LORD God placed all kinds of beautiful trees take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for
and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees ever:
were in the middle of the garden. One of the
trees gave life--the other gave the power to HEB: ‫י ָּ֗דֹו וְלָּקַ ח ַּ֚גם מֵ ֵ ָ֣עץ ַהֶֽחַ ִֶ֔יים‬
know the difference between right and
wrong. (Interlinear Hebrew-English: his hand and
take also the tree of life)
4. Brenton’s English Septuagint, digital
version for e-sword software: Gén 2:9 And God
While Adam was a three-parts being, he had
made to spring up also out of the earth every
the access to rules of life and spiritual and natural
tree beautiful to the eye and good for food, and
terms with and only under God’s guidance. That
was integral spiritual communication. Without Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the
spiritual guidance from God. man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil: and now, lest he (the verse refers to Adam,
“Become as one of us”, The meaning of this the men) put forth his hand (Hands of who?
sentence is the knowledge of the evil’s enjoyment The serpent through to manipulate Adam or
is now known by the men like all the spiritual being Eve if they would reborn from evil spirit), and
and God, due the satan’s existence since him tried take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for
to undermine the God authority in the heaven ever:
places.
Adam and Eve, had chance to make it deeply Gén 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him (to
wrong. who? Adam) forth from the garden of Eden, to
till the ground from whence he was taken.
“and take also of the tree of life, and eat”, This
is saying that God will not permit satan to have Gén 3:24 So he (God) drove out the man, and
access of the fundamental principles of life and of he placed at the east of the garden of Eden
the creation, that He made after the world’s fixing Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned
period along of Genesis 1:3 till the end. As well as, every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
to understand and to apply those principles to do
destruction. God not only preserved Adam and Eve's life,
additionally, He protected the unbreakable rules of
Additionally, Adam and Eve had an enormous the creation from the serpent. After this
probability of reborn from the spirit of evil. catastrophic situation, Adam and Eve had only their
Consequently, to use the rules of the creation five senses for to survive and to go on with their
against himself and as a result never would get life. God could communicate with them through
redemption with the potential new, evil and wicked their spirit of life and through indirect way by
spiritual condition. The situation was critical for dreams and others.
future of the creation.
Dr Wierville V. (1971, p.268) argues that “The
Devil now has the rulership, the dominion, the in
“live for ever”, This is saying, satan could the flesh made by hands; authority, the power
manipulate the men and to destroy spiritually
which Adam originally possessed over God's
everything and prevail against God.
creation. Whenever the Devil wants to flood a
“The true God and His arch enemy, the devil, territory, he floods it out. When he wants to kill
were involved in an all-out battle. If Adam and people, he kills them. All evil and disease are
Eve had been allowed to stay in paradise after the the opposite of what the true God would do. To
fall, the Devil could have defeated God. The Devil read a classic example of human suffering, follow
could then have kept the man in that the biography of Job. It was the Devil who killed
unredeemable state of sin forever if the man had Job’s children; it was the Devil who turned Job’s
eaten of the tree of life after once sinning. So that wife against him; it was the Devil who sent the
this would not happen, God drove Adam and Eve storm. Why? Because he has the power, the
out of the garden or paradise (Dr Wierwille V. rulership, the dominion, the authority over this
1971, p. 266)”. earth", however, based on the scriptures, satan do
not have entree to “the tree of life” neither us.
Adam (consequently all humans) could be
dead spiritually forever, nonetheless, God did not Now, Sons of God (Men with his spirit, soul
allow that and He protected them from the following and body) can believe and to pray God and to stop
evil actions because to reborn from the evil seed is the evil activity around us, due that “tree of life” is
the eternal death. Cain was an example of this intact and preserved in which there are
situation. unbreakable laws of spiritual and natural order.
This is the way that God is preserving the spiritual
The serpent wanted to have access to the amazing condition of His church until the return of Jesus
new rules of creation after its fall through of the Christ. In addition, all of these is founded in our
cheating or using Adam and Eve. free will and willingness.
 Finally, God is pure and clear and there are no
tricky mysteries in him. Keeping the integrity of his
word and understanding in its integrity will provide
a suitable way to reach the truth of his original
revelation of God.

God bless you and preserve your precious life.

W. Martin Canales Ayala.

(June 2015)

Reference list:
Blair, Th 2013, Hebrew-English Interlinear ESV Old Testament: Hebrew bible Stuttgartensia (BHS)
and English Standard Version (ESV) (digital scanned version).
<https://archive.org/details/ESVInterlinearOT>
Bullinger, E. W n.d., Figures of speech used in the Bible, Princeton, USA
<https://archive.org/details/figuresofspeechu00bull >
Strong, J 1890, a concise dictionary of the words in the Hebrew bible (digital scanned version),
Abingd on press, Nashville, New York.
Wierville, VP 1971, Power for abundant living, American Christian Press (digital version), New
Knoxville, Ohio.