Genesis 3:21-24

3:21 The Lord God made garments from skin ¹  for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 3:22 And the Lord God said, “Now ²  that the man has become like one of us, ³  knowing ⁴  good and evil, he must not be allowed ⁵  to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 3:23 So the Lord God expelled him ⁶  from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. 3:24 When he drove ⁷  the man out, he placed on the eastern side ⁸  of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries ⁹  who used the flame of a whirling sword ¹⁰  to guard the way to the tree of life.

¹ sn The Lord God made garments from skin. The text gives no indication of how this was done, or how they came by the skins. Earlier in the narrative (v. 7) the attempt of the man and the woman to cover their nakedness with leaves expressed their sense of alienation from each other and from God. By giving them more substantial coverings, God indicates this alienation is greater than they realize. This divine action is also ominous; God is preparing them for the more hostile environment in which they will soon be living (v. 23). At the same time, there is a positive side to the story in that God makes provision for the man’s and woman’s condition.

² tn The particle הֵן (hen) introduces a foundational clause, usually beginning with “since, because, now.”

³ sn The man has become like one of us. See the notes on Gen 1:26 and 3:5.

⁴ tn The infinitive explains in what way the man had become like God: “knowing good and evil.”

⁵ tn Heb “and now, lest he stretch forth.” Following the foundational clause, this clause forms the main point. It is introduced with the particle פֶּן (pen) which normally introduces a negative purpose, “lest….” The construction is elliptical; something must be done lest the man stretch forth his hand. The translation interprets the point intended.

⁶ tn The verb is the Piel preterite of שָׁלַח (shalakh), forming a wordplay with the use of the same verb (in the Qal stem) in v. 22: To prevent the man’s “sending out” his hand, the Lord “sends him out.”

⁷ tn The verb with the vav (ו) consecutive is made subordinate to the next verb forming a temporal clause. This avoids any tautology with the previous verse that already stated that the Lord expelled the man.

⁸ tn Or “placed in front.” Directions in ancient Israel were given in relation to the east rather than the north.

⁹ tn The Hebrew word is traditionally transliterated “the cherubim.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “the flame of the sword that turns round and round.” The noun “flame” is qualified by the genitive of specification, “the sword,” which in turn is modified by the attributive participle “whirling.” The Hitpael of the verb “turn” has an iterative function here, indicating repeated action. The form is used in Job 37:12 of swirling clouds and in Judg 7:13 of a tumbling roll of bread. Verse 24 depicts the sword as moving from side to side to prevent anyone from passing or as whirling around, ready to cut to shreds anyone who tries to pass.