I read this article by Jeff Popick with great interest – and all the articles to follow from other readers – which were not only exemplary, but very thought provoking.
Now! To my short input of thoughts about this magnanimous subject.
In the original Hebrew - this word FRUIT of Geneses 3:3 is פְּרִי PERI and it does mean the literal fruit or product of some fruit tree, and is so transliterated 112 times in other places in the Old Testament.
So to understand exactly what this word fruit stands for – and means in this particular verse we must delve deeper into the Holy Scriptures.
First let us look at where the fruit/product of the knowledge of good and evil - came from – what tree?
The word tree above, that produced the fruit that Eve gave to Adam is עֵץ
But the word TREE in Geneses 2:17 “But of the TREE of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” 18 “ And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (K.J.V.).
So when God told Adam not to eat of the TREE – Eve had not yet even been created.
The Hebrew word transliterated TREE here is וּמֵעֵץ it is an allegory (a spiritual representation) as in Judges 9:8.
Judges 9:8 “The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them….” (K.J.V.).
So this tree that Adam must not eat/partake of is a spiritual command.
God is actually commanding Adam not to become full of pride - not do the same as Lucifer did and rebel against God’s friendship and turn good into evil.
God was talking to Adam about the rebellion of Lucifer/Satan
Revelation 12:7 “And there was war in Heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and His angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.”
But Adam did disobey God, and hundreds of years later his physical body died and returned to dust, but his spirit returned to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7) – his soul (life) still has to be judged at the “Great White Throne Judgement” (Revelation 20:12).
And there has been war here ever since.
God was so disappointed with His physical creation, that! But for Noah, we would not be here now.
“Genesis 6:7 “And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 … and Noah walked with God.” (like Adam should have). Good old Noah!
He saved the day and us.
You can read more about the fruit and Jesus’ sacrifice on:
http://www.all-creatures.org/ach
In Jesus’ name:
Bernie.
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