The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

The phrase, the knowledge of good and evil, is found several places in the Bible. Looking at the context of the places it is found gives meaning to it and to the meaning of this mysterious tree in the midst of the garden in Genesis 2:9.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was beside the tree of life in the midst of the garden. God told Adam to eat of the trees of the garden, “…but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17.

This tree, like all of the trees of the garden, was pleasing to the sight, it was just not good for food. It had another purpose. Its place in the garden lends to understanding that purpose. It was at the very center of Eden right beside the tree of life and its appearance was dazzling and spectacular!

The garden of Eden was the worship center of the earth and of all of creation. Here Adam knew and walked with God. The entire water source of the earth flowed from the garden. A garden grows. The worship center of the earth was to grow and eventually encompass the whole earth! The earth was created to be center of creation.

Adam worshiped God by working the garden and keeping it. The Hebrew word translated “work” in that verse means to serve and is used several times in the Old Testament for “worship.” Adam served and worshiped God by keeping the garden.

The Hebrew word translated “keep” is one of the main words in the Old Testament. The word shamar means to value and to see the great worth of something. It is closely related to worship in that regard. It means to watch and guard because of the great worth and value of a thing. It means to study with keen observation because of the wonder and amazement of it. After Cain killed Abel and God asked him where his brother was, Cain’s sarcastic answer was, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9.

The point is this: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was to be recognized as of supreme worth, standing right beside the tree of life, at the very center of the worship center. But for Adam and Eve the knowledge of good and evil would come from another source. Tomorrow, we will continue this study.

Today, memorize Psalm 119:129, “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.” Meditate on the surpassing value and eternal blessing of God’s word for you today.