B-Hebrew: The Biblical Hebrew Forum

Genesis 2:9 בראשית
2:9וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃

Does Genesis 2:9 says "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" or "the tree of knowledge, good and evil"? It seems like the word "the" is before "knowledge", but shouldn't it be in front of good and evil?

Maybe Genesis 2:9 says "but" the tree of knowledge is good and evil, referring to the tree. Maybe Genesis 2:16-17 says "but" from the tree of knowledge is good and evil.

Genesis 2:9 בראשית
2:9וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃

Genesis 2:16 - 17 בראשית
2:16וַיְצַו֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃ 2:17וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃

Genesis 2:9 could say "but (and) the tree of life ...and the tree of knowledge are good and bad."
Genesis 2:9 בראשית
2:9וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃

Kenneth Greifer wrote: ↑Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:23 am Genesis 2:9 בראשית
2:9וַיַּצְמַ֞ח יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃

Does Genesis 2:9 says "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" or "the tree of knowledge, good and evil"? It seems like the word "the" is before "knowledge", but shouldn't it be in front of good and evil?

No.

To start out, דעת is an irregular derivative from an irregular verb. Secondly, it’s not a regular noun in construct with the following, rather here it has the force of the infinitive with טוב ורע being the objects of the action.

Karl W. Randolph.

Karl,
I guess you are saying it says "the tree of knowing good and evil." I thought it would be read as "the tree of the knowing good and evil", so I thought it didn't sound right that way. It is confusing in a way. I am not sure if you are right, although what you are saying makes sense. I would have to see other quotes like that I guess.

I think I'd go that way, too... "the tree of the knowing good and evil," taking "good and evil" as an accusative (direct object) of the infinitive "knowing."

What it says is: and the tree of knowing (upon eating its fruit) what is right and what is wrong.

Isaac Fried, Boston University
www.hebrewetymology.com