# What was the purpose of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405 "2023-02-26T19:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/62 "2023-02-27T21:32:21Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > One thing I’ll note is that the tree was there before Adam or Eve. > > May want to check that one, I’m pretty sure Adam is formed before the tree is planted. I quoted the tree’s planting in Genesis 2:9 above, I believe Adam was formed just before that. The timeline is confusing, but it looks to me like Adam and the Garden of Eden were created separately and then Adam was put into Eden “to work it and take care of it.” > [@](#): > > 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[[a](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=NIV#fen-NIV-36a)] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[[b](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=NIV#fen-NIV-37b)] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man[[c](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=NIV#fen-NIV-38c)] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. > > 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. > … > 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” I do not think it’s safe to assume that the Garden of Eden was created specifically for Adam or that everything in it was put there specifically with him in mind. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/64 "2023-02-27T21:49:28Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > May want to check that one, I’m pretty sure Adam is formed before the tree is planted. I quoted the tree’s planting in Genesis 2:9 above, I believe Adam was formed just before that. Which of course neglects the man and woman that jehovallah created _in his own image_ in Genesis 1:26~28. Those two were never heard from again. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/65 "2023-02-27T22:19:54Z")
In all the interpretations I’ve read, or had read to me, the second narrative of Genesis is a more detailed recounting of the first narrative. Meaning they are one and the same between Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/66 "2023-02-27T22:42:17Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > May want to check that one, I’m pretty sure Adam is formed before the tree is planted. I quoted the tree’s planting in Genesis 2:9 above, I believe Adam was formed just before that. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The timeline is confusing, but it looks to me like Adam and the Garden of Eden were created separately and then Adam was put into Eden “to work it and take care of it.” Exactly, 2:15 was when Adam was put there. I guess Adam was around before the tree, who knows where, just kind of playing in the dirt I guess. But God put Adam in the garden after the tree was already there. The timeline _is_ confusing. In Genesis 1:27, it says, “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” But then the scripture says in 2:18, “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’” And He creates Eve in 2:22. So I don’t know if Chapter 1 is foreshadowing what is going to come later, or there was a retcon, or maybe there were other men and women aside from Adam and Eve outside of the Garden of Eden…? > [@Max\_S](#): > > In all the interpretations I’ve read, or had read to me, the second narrative of Genesis is a more detailed recounting of the first narrative. Meaning they are one and the same between Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. That is probably the easiest way to reconcile it, yeah. > [@Hijack of Tree of Knowledge thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijack-of-tree-of-knowledge-thread/980497/3): > > The Bible says God says to Adam they should not eat of it. Eve is the one in the Bible who states God Stated they should not even touch it. It is uncertain that God said this, or if Adam told Eve God said this, or Eve added that to the instructions as an extra precaution for herself. The Bible does also indicate that Eve was deceived. Thus we don’t know if God also disallowed touching of the fruit. Good point, that’s hearsay on Eve’s part. That might not have been an actual commandment. (Just FYI, for simplicity I was using the version of the Bible that the Vatican is hosting, all of Genesis on one page [here](https://www.vatican.va/archive/bible/genesis/documents/bible_genesis_en.html).) ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/68 "2023-02-27T23:13:00Z")
And what would have happened had Eve eaten it and Adam didn’t? Or vice versa? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/69 "2023-02-27T23:17:35Z")
The subtext of the narrative is that man was just fine until the woman came along and beguiled him into the downfall. The behavior of the judeochrislamic rabreachullahs over time clearly bears this out. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/70 "2023-02-27T23:17:47Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > And what would have happened had Eve eaten it and Adam didn’t? Then maybe Lilith would come back to console him. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/72 "2023-02-27T23:39:36Z")
I agree it was used as a test (free will to obey God or not) but I speculate it also had another purpose. If they had continued to refuse to eat it my guess is God would have eventually given it to them anyway. Then they would have known right and wrong like God and remained in paradise. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/73 "2023-02-27T23:47:43Z")
I’ve eaten apples, and I’ve eaten pomegranates, and a bunch of other fruits, and none of them has ever imparted any sort of metaphysical knowledge on me. Clearly, the Forbidden Fruit wasn’t an apple or a pomegranate or whatever; it was a Tree-of-Knowledge-Fruit. That species is now presumably extinct, or (at best) extant only in an extremely small and inaccessible-to-humans range. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/74 "2023-02-27T23:52:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ve eaten apples, and I’ve eaten pomegranates, and a bunch of other fruits, and none of them has ever imparted any sort of metaphysical knowledge on me. Clearly, the Forbidden Fruit wasn’t an apple or a pomegranate I thought the whole point was that you’ve _already_ got whatever Adam and Eve got from it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/84 "2023-02-28T18:01:03Z")
I ask that we not turn this into a general discussion about God’s and/or Jesus’ plans, please. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/85 "2023-02-28T18:03:49Z")
Ok, you’re right, I’ll drop the hijack. It’s a futile endeavor to apply logic when debating theology with kanicbird anyway. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/86 "2023-02-28T18:08:44Z")
---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/87 "2023-02-28T18:12:40Z")
Arghh! Talk about hijacking a thread. Let me sort this crap out. It may or may not be a warning for Kanicbird and absolutely a thread ban! I will probably move all of his posts out and replies. @Kanicbird, **you are not allowed to post further in this thread.** ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/88 "2023-02-28T18:18:09Z")
---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/89 "2023-02-28T18:57:09Z")
Somehow, an on topic post of mine got moved with the hijack posts to another thread, but I still thinks it better fits in this thread. So I hope that I’m allowed to crosspost it here: > [@Hijack of Tree of Knowledge thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijack-of-tree-of-knowledge-thread/980497/10): > > By the way, I think it hasn’t come up yet in this thread: for me, the story of the Tree of knowledge never made a lick of sense. So God made Adam and Eve, but they both don’t know the difference between good and evil by design. Then God (as by definition he is the Almighty) sends the snake along to tempt A&E to eat the fruit. Them being drooling toddlers mentally without a moral compass and thus not knowing that eating the fruit is evil in God’s mind, of course follow the snake’s advice and bam,… ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/90 "2023-02-28T19:02:57Z")
It is kind of a paradox. Adam and Eve lack the “knowledge of good and evil”, so how can they understand that eating the fruit of tha tree is wrong if they cannot comprehend what “wrong” means? The notion of “original sin” collapses in upon itself. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/91 "2023-02-28T19:06:52Z")
On top of that, the story sends a bad message, that going for knowledge is evil. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/92 "2023-02-28T19:15:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Adam and Eve lack the “knowledge of good and evil”, so how can they understand that eating the fruit of tha tree is wrong if they cannot comprehend what “wrong” means? Clearly it’s wrong because God says so. They lacked the ability to know good and evil outside of what God told them directly. In theory, God could have taught them good and evil, but the fruit downloaded it into their brains Matrix style. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405/93 "2023-02-28T19:29:04Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Clearly it’s wrong because God says so. They lacked the ability to know good and evil outside of what God told them directly. But how could they assess who was the greater authority, God or the snake? Did God warn them of the snake or told them that everything He told them was the moral truth? Genesis is silent about that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil/980405.md?page=5)