Genesis 3:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God expels Adam from Eden to work the ground from which he was created.
The Context of Genesis 3:23
God expels Adam from the garden to work the cursed ground.
What Does Genesis 3:23 Mean?
Adam is sent out of the garden—no longer welcome in that place of innocent abundance and divine intimacy. He is sent to work the ground (adamah), the very substance from which he was formed. His labor will be on the earth, and his fate is bound to it.
This expulsion is both punishment and provision. Adam cannot remain in the place of the tree of life and perfect provision; he must venture into a world that now resists him. Yet the ground that curses him is also the material from which he came, binding him to creation and its cycles.
Genesis 3:23 in the Original Language
salach (שָׁלַח), sent forth — to send away or dismiss; the verb signals separation from the place of divine presence
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 3:23
What does Genesis 3:23 mean?
God expels Adam from Eden to work the ground from which he was created.
What is the context of Genesis 3:23?
God expels Adam from the garden to work the cursed ground.