Bible Strands
Genesis 3:2
The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The woman addresses the serpent immediately after it questions her about God’s command regarding the trees in the garden. This reply occurs during their direct exchange before she completes her statement about the central tree.
The words — The verb נֹאכֵל (no.Khel) literally translates to “we will eat,” establishing the permitted action as a collective future reality. The prepositional phrase מִפְּרִי עֵץ (mi.pe.Ri 'etz-) specifies “from the fruit of the tree,” marking the exact boundary of the allowance.
The thread — The serpent’s deceptive speech aligns with the venomous imagery described in Psalms 58:4, while the garden setting establishes the narrative ground for later biblical covenants and judgments.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to notice how a partial truth functions as a theological boundary before any transgression occurs. It demands precise attention to the exact limits of divine permission before they are deliberately expanded.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Cross-references
- Psalms 58:4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,