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:
And the LORD God said, 'Look, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, we must prevent him from reaching out and also taking fruit from the tree of life, eating it, and living forever.'
God is acknowledging that humans have gained knowledge of good and evil like divine beings, and He must now prevent them from also gaining eternal life in their fallen state.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs immediately after Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. The phrase 'one of us' likely refers to the divine council or Trinity, reflecting ancient Near Eastern concepts of heavenly beings who possessed divine knowledge. God's concern about preventing access to the tree of life shows His mercy—living forever in a sinful, fallen state would be a curse rather than a blessing.
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