BSV Reading 4: "And You Shall Be As Gods!" Genesis 3:4-5

BSV Reading 4:  “And You Shall Be As Gods!”

Genesis 3:4-5

Answering the serpent’s question (Genesis 3:1,BSV Reading 3), Eve explains

 there is one tree in the middle of the garden,

 the fruit of which God has forbidden “lest we die.” Genesis 3:2-3.

 Satan has his rebuttal ready:

4  Dixit autem serpens ad mulierem: “Nequaquam morte moriemini.
5  Scit enim Deus quod in quocumque die comederitis, ex eo aperientur oculi vestri: et eritis sicut dii, scientes bonum et malum.”

4  Dixit autem serpens ad mulierem  And the serpent replied to the woman; “mulierem” is accusative singular of the third declension noun mulier, mulieris, f., “woman.”  “serpens” is nominative singular of the third declension noun serpens, serpentis, f.  “dixit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of dico, dicere, dixi, dictum, “to say.” 

Nequaquam morte moriemini No way will you two ‘die the death’; “moriemini” is second person plural future indicative active of the deponent morior, mori, mortuus sum, “to die.”  “morte” is ablative singular of the third declension noun mors, mortis, f.;  ablative of cause (literally, “die by death.”) (Note that the serpent quotes the idiom “morte morieris,” Genesis 2:17, BSV Reading 2) found in the initial warning to Adam, which Eve was not there to hear and which she does not repeat to the serpent.)  “Nequaquam” is an indeclinable adverb meaning “by no means, not at all.” 

5  Scit enim Deus quod in quocumque die comederitis In fact, God knows that on whatever day you do eat of that tree…; “comederitis” is second person plural future perfect indicative active of comedo, comedere, comesi, comesum, “to eat, consume, devour.”  “die” is ablative singular of the fifth declension noun dies, diei, m./f.; ablative of time when.  “quocumque” is an indeclinable adverb meaning “whichsoever, wheresoever, whatever.”  “scit” is third person singular present indicative active of scio, scire, scivi, scitum, “to know, understand, have knowledge.”

ex eo aperientur oculi vestri: from that moment your eyes will be opened; “aperientur” is third person plural future indicative passive of aperio, aperire, aperui, apertum, “to open, uncover.”  “oculi” is nominative plural of the second declension noun oculus, oculi, m., “eye.”  “vestri” is nominative plural of the first/second declension pronoun vester, vestra, vestrum, “your, yours.” 

et eritis sicut dii, scientes bonum et malum.” And you will be like gods, knowing both good and evil; “scientes” is present active participle of scio.  “eritis” is second person plural future indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “dii” is nominative plural of the second declension noun deus, dei, m.  The adverb “sicut”=”as, just as, like.”

Running Vocabulary

4 mulier, mulieris, f., “woman.” serpens, serpentis, f., “serpent.” dico, dicere, dixi, dictum, “to say.” morior, mori, mortuus sum, “to die.”   nequaquam, adverb, “not at all, in no way.”

5 comedo, comedere, comesi, comesum, “to eat, consume, devour.” dies, diei, m./f., “day.” quocumque, adverb, “whichsoever, wheresoever.” scio, scire, scivi, scitum, “to know, understand, have knowledge.” aperio, aperire, aperui, apertum, “to open, uncover.” oculus, oculi, m., “eye.” vester, vestra, vestrum, “your, yours.”    deus, dei, m., “god.” sicut, adverb, “as, just as, like.”