Gen 3:22-23 | TNotes | STEP | 3:22 like us: The plural probably reflects God’s conversation with his angelic court (see study note on 1:26). • the tree of life ... live forever! Mercifully, God prevented humankind from eating of the tree of life and having to live forever in a fallen state. Through Jesus Christ, however, eternal life is once again made available (see Rev 2:7 ; 22:2 , 14 , 19 ).

a3:22►

bRev 2:7►

c22:2►

d14►

e19►

f3:23►

gLev 16:1-2►

hNum 5:3►

‏ Genesis 3:22-23

3:22 ^a like us: The plural probably reflects God’s conversation with his angelic court (see study note on 1:26).

• the tree of life ... live forever! Mercifully, God prevented humankind from eating of the tree of life and having to live forever in a fallen state. Through Jesus Christ, however, eternal life is once again made available (see Rev 2:7 ^b; 22:2 ^c, 14 ^d, 19 ^e).
3:23 ^f So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden: Before the Fall, the garden was a sanctuary in which humans could move freely in God’s holy presence. Now their sin required expulsion from that environment. This same principle was behind the laws that restricted an Israelite’s access to God’s presence in the Tabernacle or Temple (e.g., Lev 16:1-2 ^g; Num 5:3 ^h).