Although God says that Adam (and Eve) would die if he ate from the tree, he lives 930 years. But this presupposes a literalist interpretation of die. The meaning of “…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17b, KJV), can certainly be understood as an expression that Adam and Eve’s immortality would be lost. The author of Genesis certainly couldn’t have wanted to say that Adam and Eve would die the very same day they ate of the forbidden fruit and so this remains as a Semitic expression of the kind we can see elsewhere in Ancient Near Eastern Literature (for example Xerxes and other Persian emperors’ inscriptions). Even if one thinks the JEDP theory here has a redactor or a different author insert verse 2:17 (and 3:3-4), that redactor certainly couldn’t have wanted to say Adam and Eve would die that very same day and not change the rest of Genesis (and explain the origin of humanity how?). It is similar to when Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross, “…today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
Genesis 2:17 – Did Adam Die On The Same Day As He Ate From The Fruit Of The Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil Or Not?
