Genesis 2:16 kjv — And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

King James Version

"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:"

— Genesis 2:16, King James Version

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Genesis 2:16 in Other Translations

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Genesis 2 — Context

13

And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

14

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

15

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

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.

19

And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Genesis 2:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Genesis 2:16 say?
Genesis 2:16 in the King James Version reads: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:”
Where is Genesis 2:16 in the Bible?
Genesis 2:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis, chapter 2, verse 16.
Who wrote Genesis?
Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). Anciently attributed to Moses; many modern scholars view Genesis as a compilation of older oral and written sources finalized in or after the Babylonian exile. It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Genesis about?
Genesis is the book of beginnings — the origin of the universe, humanity, sin, and the covenant family God chose to bless the nations. It traces creation, the fall, the flood, and the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, laying the foundation for the rest of Scripture and pointing forward to the redemption that comes through the promised seed.
What are the major themes of Genesis?
Genesis explores themes including Creation, Fall, Covenant, Faith, Family, Promise. These themes shape the meaning and context of Genesis 2:16.
What translation should I read Genesis 2:16 in?
Genesis 2:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Genesis 2:16?
Genesis 2:16 reads (KJV): “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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