Genesis 3:22-24
New Catholic Bible
22 The Lord God said, “Behold, man has become like one of us, for he has knowledge of that which is good and that which is evil. Now, we must prevent him from reaching out and taking the fruit of the tree of life lest he eat it and live forever.” 23 The Lord God cast him out of the Garden of Eden; henceforth he was to labor tilling the soil from which he had come. 24 When he expelled him, he placed cherubim[a] to the east of the Garden of Eden with flaming swords to keep watch over the way to the tree of life.
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- Genesis 3:24 The cherubim and the flaming swords symbolize the divine prohibition. In fact, the mythical winged colossi, half animal, half human, that stood guard at palaces, temples, and thrones of gods and kings in ancient Mesopotamia (known there as karibu; in the Bible see Ex 25:20; 1 Ki 6:27; Ezek 10:14), as well as the lightning represented in the form of flames or a wavy sword on stones marking the borders of territories, meant that access to the place in question was forbidden to profane persons and defended by the gods.
Genesis 3:22-24
New International Version
22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us,(A) knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life(B) and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden(C) to work the ground(D) from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side[a] of the Garden of Eden(E) cherubim(F) and a flaming sword(G) flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.(H)
Footnotes
- Genesis 3:24 Or placed in front
Genesis 3:22-24
King James Version
22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
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