Genesis 3:3 - Did Eve add to God's command?

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Hebrew Text

וּמִפְּרִי הָעֵץ אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא תִגְּעוּ בּוֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתוּן׃

English Translation

but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

Transliteration

U-mi-pri ha-etz asher b-toch ha-gan amar Elohim lo tochelu mi-menu ve-lo tig'u bo pen-temutun.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּמִפְּרִ֣י הָעֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן֒ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים לֹ֤א תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתֽוּן׃

Parasha Commentary

The Prohibition of the Tree of Knowledge

The verse (Bereshit 3:3) recounts Chava's response to the serpent regarding the command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Rashi notes that Chava added to the original command by stating, "nor shall you touch it," which was not part of Hashem's initial instruction to Adam (Bereshit 2:17). This addition, according to Rashi, created an opening for the serpent to deceive her—by pushing her against the tree and showing her that touching it did not cause death, thereby casting doubt on the entire command.

Chava's Addition and Its Consequences

The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 19:3) elaborates that Chava's inclusion of "nor shall you touch it" was a distortion of the divine command. The Ramban (Nachmanides) explains that this reflects a common human tendency to add stringencies to mitzvot, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or even violations of the original law. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 29a) teaches that adding to mitzvot is problematic because it can result in diminishing the actual commandment.

The Severity of the Command

The phrase "lest you die" (פֶּן־תְּמֻתוּן) is interpreted by the Sforno as a warning of the spiritual and physical consequences of disobeying Hashem's will. The Tree of Knowledge represented a test of obedience, and its prohibition was meant to instill discipline and reverence for divine authority. The Rambam (Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 5:1) emphasizes that the fear of Hashem is the foundation of wisdom, and this command was a means to cultivate that fear.

Lessons for Torah Observance

Accuracy in Mitzvot: The incident teaches the importance of transmitting divine commands precisely, without adding or subtracting (Devarim 4:2).
Guarding Against Deception: Chava's mistake highlights the need for vigilance against those who seek to undermine Torah values by exploiting misunderstandings.
Trust in Hashem's Wisdom: The prohibition was not arbitrary but served a higher purpose, teaching that divine commandments are for human benefit, even if their reasons are not always apparent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Genesis 3:3 mean when it says not to eat or touch the fruit?
A: In Genesis 3:3, Eve recounts Hashem's command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. According to Rashi, the prohibition against touching the fruit was an extra safeguard added by Eve (or taught to her by Adam) to avoid even coming close to the sin of eating it. This teaches the importance of building 'fences' around mitzvot to prevent transgression.

Q: Why was the punishment for eating the fruit so severe ('lest you die')?
A: The Torah emphasizes the severity of disobeying Hashem's direct command. Rambam explains that death was the consequence because this was a fundamental test of free will—choosing obedience to G-d over one's own desires. The Midrash teaches that this 'death' included spiritual separation and eventual physical mortality entering the world.

Q: Where was the Tree of Knowledge located according to Jewish tradition?
A: The verse states it was 'in the midst of the garden.' Midrash Bereishit Rabbah describes it as centrally located so Adam and Eve would see it constantly, reminding them of their test of obedience. Some commentaries suggest it was a fig tree (based on their later use of fig leaves), while others say it was uniquely created and no longer exists.

Q: How does this verse relate to the concept of 'fences around the Torah'?
A: Eve's addition 'nor shall you touch it' (beyond Hashem's original command) reflects the rabbinic principle of making 'seyag laTorah'—protective boundaries. As Pirkei Avot 1:1 teaches, the Sages later instituted many such safeguards (like not handling money on Shabbat) to prevent accidental violations of Torah laws.

Q: What lesson can we learn today from Genesis 3:3?
A: This verse teaches: 1) The danger of adding to Hashem's commands (Eve's extra restriction led to the serpent pushing her), 2) The need for clear boundaries when facing temptation, and 3) How one small disobedience can have major consequences—a theme later seen with the sin of the Golden Calf. The Talmud (Sotah 9b) derives from this that one should not overly restrict what the Torah permits.