What GOOD was there in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Short Answer: What GOOD was there in the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?

The concept of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is explored in Genesis. In Chapter 1, God creates everything and declares it good, allowing access to all the trees in the garden. However, in Chapter 2, the Lord sets rules concerning the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:9, 17). God warned Adam not to eat from it, as doing so would lead to death.

The word “evil” (רע) is formed from two Hebrew letters: Resh (ר), representing a man’s head, and Ayin (ע), symbolizing a man’s eye. God’s depiction of evil is when individuals go after what is pleasing to them. This same combination of letters is found in the word “Shepherd” (רע) mentioned in Psalm 23:1, emphasizing the role of a shepherd as one who cares for and looks out for the sheep.

On the other hand, “good” (טוב) consists of three Hebrew letters/pictures: Tet (ט) – a serpent; Vau (ו) – a nail; and Bet (ב) – a house. God’s representation of good is a serpent nailed to a house, symbolizing Christ’s crucifixion and redemption. Several references are made, such as Numbers 21:8-9 and John 3:14, associating this symbol with the medical symbol of a serpent on a pole.

God’s goodness leads to repentance, as mentioned in Romans 2:4. It is something that helps people to turn away from sin. When sin is revealed through God’s goodness, it brings about consequences and death, as described in Romans 7:12-13, which works good because people turn back to God. This is why Psalm 119:71 says, “[It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

If Adam had only eaten from the tree of knowledge of evil without consequences, it could have been termed a tree of knowledge of evil. But God, in His wisdom, did not let sin be successful! Like a good parent, He let there be consequences so we’d learn to obey His Word and choose not to sin, and then He prevented man from partaking of the Tree of Life after eating from the Tree of Knowledge, ensuring that man’s mortality was established. He prevented us from living in evil and earned consequences forever.

Scripture Outline:

The Tree of Knowledge:

• Genesis 1 – God makes everything and says that it is very good (v. 31) and they can eat of every tree of the garden (v. 29)
• Genesis 2 – from the LORD’s perspective – the LORD always has requirements of His chosen people 
• Tree of the knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2:9, 17 
  • v. 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.”
• What is EVIL (Gen. 2:17)?
  • Evil רע from two Hebrew letters: 
    • Resh ר – originally drawn as a picture of a man’s head 
    • Ayin ע – originally a picture of a man’s eye 
  • God’s Picture of Evil:
    • When you take it upon yourself to look out for yourself
    • Man’s eyes and head looking out for himself
  • Same two letters in Shepherd רע (Psa. 23:1) that are in Evil
    • Why? The shepherd is the man or head that looks out for the sheep
• What is GOOD (Gen. 2:17)?
  • Good טוב has three letters / pictures: 
    • Tet ט – a serpent
    • Vau ו – nail 
    • Bet ב – house 
  • God’s picture of GOOD: Serpent nailed to the house
    • References: Heb. 3:6; 2 Cor. 5:1-2; Num. 21:8-9; John 3:14; Cp. medical symbol is a picture of a serpent on a pole
  • When we hear “GOOD” we think of a lucky charm or winning the lottery but God’s mindset is different: 
    • Rom. 2:4 – “…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
      • God’s “GOODNESS” is something that makes you want to repent
    • Rom. 7:12-13 – “…But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good…”
      • If when Adam had eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and nothing happened to him, it could only be termed a tree of knowledge of evil 
      • Gen. 2:22-24 – The Tree of Life
        • If it was only the tree of knowledge of evil, God would have allowed them to eat of the tree of life and man would have lived in that state forever
      • When Adam ate he began to die because sin was working death in him by that which is good – consequences for sin
        • Natural examples:
          • A child being punished by a parent when they do something wrong is bringing something good. 
          • When someone smokes there are sicknesses that occur that can cause someone to turn and stop smoking.
    • It’s GOOD for us when God doesn’t allow our sin to be successful!
  • Psalm 119:65-71
    • This chapter is an acrostic poem – divided into 22 sections with eight verses in each. All of the verses in each section start with the same letter, consecutively. 
      • v. 1-8 start with Aleph א (the first Hebrew letter) 
      • v. 9-16 start with Beth ב (the second Hebrew letter) 
      • v. 17-24 start with Gimel ג (the third Hebrew letter) 
    • Tet ט Section: v. 65-72 are the good / well verses 
    • The psalmist says in v. 71: [It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
      • It is good when we learn the Word of God, that God’s word is right and true, and that what God said is going to come to pass
      • His relationship with God grew from the consequences of the wrong he did