Genesis 3:4

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.

Genesis 3:4 in Other Translations

KJV
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
ESV
4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
NLT
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
MSG
4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die.
CSB
4 "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman.

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 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3
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