Genesis 3:4

4 Forsooth the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not die by death (Ye shall not die);

Genesis 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman
In reply to her answer: ye shall not surely die;
in direct contradiction to the divine threatening, and which he would insinuate was a mere threatening, and which God never intended to put in execution; so that they had nothing to fear from that, God would never be so rigid and severe, and beat so hard upon them as to put them to death for such an offence, if it was one; he only gave out the menace to frighten them, and deter from it: however, at most it was not a certain thing they should die, and they might safely conclude they would not.

Genesis 3:4 In-Context

2 To whom the woman answered, We eat of the fruit of trees that be in paradise; (To whom the woman answered, We can eat of the fruit of the trees that be in the garden;)

3 soothly God commanded to us, that we should not eat of the fruit of the tree, which is in the midst of paradise (which is in the middle of the garden), and that we should not touch it, lest peradventure we die.

4 Forsooth the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not die by death (Ye shall not die);

5 for why God knoweth that in whatever day ye shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. (for God knoweth that on whatever day ye shall eat of it, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be like gods, knowing good and evil.)

6 Therefore the woman saw that the tree was good, and sweet to eat, and fair to the eyes, and delightable in beholding; and she took of the fruit thereof, and ate, and gave to her husband, and he ate.