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Genesis 3:18

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 3:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Genesis 3:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20And the man called his wife`s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.
← Genesis 3:17Genesis 3:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, etc.] Not for his advantage, but to give him more trouble, and cause him more fatigue and sorrow to root them up: these include all sorts of noxious herbs and plants, and troublesome weeds, which added to man’s labour to pluck up, that those more useful might grow and flourish: and Rabbi Eliezer f228 was of opinion, that if there had not been a new blessing upon the earth, it would have brought forth nothing else, as that which is rejected and nigh unto cursing does, (<580608>Hebrews 6:8) and this curse continued, at least it was not wholly removed, until the times of Noah, (<010821>Genesis 8:21) which made it hard and difficult to the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- XVI. The Judgment 15. שׁוּף shûp “bruise, wound.” τηρεῖν (=τερεῖν?) tērein ἐκτρίβειν ektribein Job 9:17, καταπατεῖν katapatein Psalms 139:11, συντρίβειν suntribein Romans 16:20. 16. תשׁוּקה teshûqâh “desire, inclination.” αποστροφή apostrofee, ἐπιστροφή epistrophē Song of Solomon 7:11. 20. חוּה chavâh Eve, “the living, life, life-place, or village.” This passage contains the examination of the transgressors, Genesis 3:8-13; the sentence pronounced upon each, Genesis 3:14-19; and certain particulars following thereupon, Genesis 3:20-21. Genesis 3:8-9 The voice, we conceive, is the thunder of the approach of God and his call to Adam. The hiding is another token of the…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Thorns: Jos 23:13; Job 5:5, Job 31:40; Pro 22:5, Pro 24:31; Isa 5:6, Isa 7:23, Isa 32:13; Jer 4:3, Jer 12:13; Mat 13:7; Heb 6:8 bring forth: Heb. cause to bud herb: Job 1:21; Psa 90:3, Psa 104:2, Psa 104:14, Psa 104:15; Rom 14:2 Genesis 3:19”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification