Genesis 3:19 Meaning and Explanation
“In 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Adam will labor in sweat to gain bread until death, returning to dust from which he was formed.
The Context of Genesis 3:19
God pronounces that Adam will labor in toil and eventually die, returning to the dust.
What Does Genesis 3:19 Mean?
The curse culminates in mortality and endless toil. Adam will work by sweat of his brow throughout his life until he dies. This statement echoes his origin—he was taken from the ground (adamah) and to the ground he will return. Dust he is, and to dust he will return.
This pronouncement links physical labor, mortality, and return to the earth. The consequence of eating from the tree of knowledge is ultimately finitude and separation from the source of life. Life in the garden meant closeness to God; life after the transgression is marked by struggle and the certainty of death.
Genesis 3:19 in the Original Language
zaah (זָעָה), sweat — labor with effort and strain; the sweat becomes a sign of the curse
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 3:19
What does Genesis 3:19 mean?
Adam will labor in sweat to gain bread until death, returning to dust from which he was formed.
What is the context of Genesis 3:19?
God pronounces that Adam will labor in toil and eventually die, returning to the dust.