The Meaning of Genesis 3:18 Explained

Genesis 3:18

KJV: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

YLT: and thorn and bramble it doth bring forth to thee, and thou hast eaten the herb of the field;

Darby: and thorns and thistles shall it yield thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

ASV: thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thorns also  and thistles  shall it bring forth  to thee; and thou shalt eat  the herb  of the field; 

What does Genesis 3:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 3:9-21 - God's Condemnation Of Adam And Eve
God does not wait for Adam to find his own way back, but hastens in search of him. "Where art thou" is rendered in one version, Alas for thee. Jesus met the Tempter not in a garden, but in the wilderness. He suffered being tempted, but has become to all who obey Him a Life-giving Spirit, and the Author of Eternal Salvation. Read 1 Corinthians 15:45, and Hebrews 5:9. The penalty is gone, borne by Him in His own body on the Cross. So Paul affirms in Romans 5:14, etc. Our bias toward evil is counteracted by His indwelling through the Holy Spirit; so we are taught in Romans 8:1-4. He bruises Satan beneath the feet of those who trust Him. Such is His own assurance in Luke 10:19, and Mark 16:17. He transforms the other results of sin. Through pain the mother's love is drawn out to her child. Hard work is educative and ennobling. Death is the gate of life. Where sin abounded, grace abounds much more. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 3

1  The serpent deceives Eve
6  Both she and Adam transgress the divine command, and fall into sin
8  God arraigns them
14  The serpent is cursed
15  The promised seed
16  The punishment of mankind
21  Their first clothing
22  Their expulsion from paradise

What do the individual words in Genesis 3:18 mean?

and both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat - the herb of the field
וְק֥וֹץ וְדַרְדַּ֖ר תַּצְמִ֣יחַֽ לָ֑ךְ וְאָכַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־ עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶֽה

וְק֥וֹץ  and  both  thorns 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹוץ 
Sense: thorn, thornbush.
וְדַרְדַּ֖ר  and  thistles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דַּרְדַּר  
Sense: thistles, thorns.
תַּצְמִ֣יחַֽ  it  shall  bring  forth 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: צָמַח  
Sense: to sprout, spring up, grow up.
לָ֑ךְ  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
וְאָכַלְתָּ֖  and  you  shall  eat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֵ֥שֶׂב  the  herb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵשֶׂב  
Sense: herb, herbage, grass, green plants.
הַשָּׂדֶֽה  of  the  field 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.