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NASB | Genesis 2:9 Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 2:9 And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil. [Rev 2:7; 22:14, 19] |
Bible Question:
Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is the first mention of the tree of life then it is mentioned and referenced again in the follow verses. Genesis 3:22-24 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: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Emphasis on the words for ever, which in some translations the word is combined as “forever”. The question is, since in the English we find the word “forever”, which is the Hebrew word “AWLAM”, does it actually mean a continuance from that point on into eternity? All that I have studied would say yes, since man, from that moment on, had an old sin nature and God didn’t want him to continue on in that condition into eternity and apart from God. Carrying that thought, it’s informative to notice that the word “AWLAM” is also used in numerous passages where the assumption of eternity isn’t plausible. Example: Leviticus 25:45-46 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. 46And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. Here is where I am running into a problem trying to figure this out. During the thousand years of Theocracy there will still be those repopulating the earth that are in their human bodies and procreating and carrying on the seed of Adam, which is still contaminated by the old sin nature, thus there will still be suffering in the world and illness in the world. The tree of life is mentioned again in the book of revelation several times. It “appears to me” that only those in glorified bodies will be allowed to eat the actual “fruit” of the tree of life but the leaves will be used for those that are still in mortal bodies as a way to heal them. Rev. 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Are there any different takes on this? CDBJ |
Bible Answer: Hi Strictly the word olam means 'into the distant future', or 'into the distant past'. It is then necessary to determine from the context whether it further means everlasting. With regard to your other query perhaps it should raise in your mind whether therefore such a thousand years of theocracy, which is neither one thing or another and is neither taught by Jesus nor by Paul, really is a Scriptural idea. There are other interpretations of Revelation 20 than the one which sees in it a future millennium, which is not in fact a New Testament concept. The New Testament directs our minds towards Heaven. It is not of course a question of much importance (apart from the fact that it robs many Christians of a large part of the Old Testament, and with some even vital parts of the New) because if we are His it will not affect us one way or the other. But sadly it takes up an inordinate of some people's time when they could be concentrating on something more important, Jesus Christ Himself. Best wishes Jonp |