Thank you for the interpretative question on Genesis 3:22, “Some claim that the word “knowing” in Genesis 3:22 should be translated as “experiencing” to avoid the implication that Adam and Eve did not know good from evil before they ate the fruit. Do you agree?”
I would strongly disagree with that interpretation based on the text and its theological implication upon the nature of God and on Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3 says this, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration on why that interpretation is faulty:
- If one substitutes or interprets knowing as “experiencing”, it would imply that God “experience” good and evil. The reference of knowing good and evil refers to us, that is to God himself. Thus one would interpret that God is not absolute holy and righteous but morally corrupt. That would be consider heresy as it contradicts the clear statement that God is holy and righteous
(Lev. 11:44, Isa. 6:3, Jam. 1:13–15). - The text states that saw that all that he had made was very good. There was nothing lacking for Adam and Eve. They had fellowship with God and the environment was perfect. They felt no shame being naked. They didn’t have a guilty conscience or conscious of anything was inadequate or wrong prior to eating the forbidden fruit. To imply good from evil is to presume that something was lacking in Adam and Eve in that it was not good. That is an incorrect interpretation. It was very good from God’s perspective and also from Adam and Eve’s perspective.
- The presence of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil if Adam and Eve were to eat the forbidden fruit would allow them to see the contrast or comparison between good and evil. Adam and Eve heard the words that if they ate the forbidden fruit that they would die. They had no experience of it. It is only after they ate that fruit and years later that they knew what it mean to die when Cain killed Abel. I hope one doesn’t have to “experience” drinking and driving to believe the law of Don’t drink and drive!”
SUMMARY: The interpretation of “experience” for knowing impugns the character of God and implies that one doesn’t know what “good” is until one experiences “evil.” Obeying God’s instructions avoids heartaches and headaches.