Gen 3:1–5: the serpent and the woman

Says The serpent opens אַף כִּי־אָמַר אֱלֹהִים, word for word "Yea, that God said …" (BDB glosses the particle "also, yea"; BSB "Did God really say"). The narrator's יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים gives way to אֱלֹהִים alone in the serpent's and the woman's words (3:1–5). God had said מִכֹּל עֵץ־הַגָּן … אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל (2:16). The woman answers מִפְּרִי עֵץ־הַגָּן נֹאכֵל, "from the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat," with no "every" and no doubled verb, and adds וְלֹא תִגְּעוּ בּוֹ, "and you shall not touch it" (BDB "touch"). The serpent replies לֹא־מוֹת תְּמֻתוּן, with the negative before the infinitive absolute that 2:17 had without it (מוֹת תָּמוּת). It promises בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְכֶם מִמֶּנּוּ, "in the day you eat of it," and וִהְיִיתֶם כֵּאלֹהִים. The verbs addressed are plural (תֹאכְלוּ, Qal imperfect 2mp).

Uncertain Whether the opening is a question or an exclamation; the BSB makes it a question. No lean is taken here.

Uncertain What the added "touch" shows: a protective fence, an exaggeration, or growing distrust. No lean is taken here.

Uncertain Whether the man is present: the plural verbs and "who was with her" (3:6) suggest it; the plural may instead include him as the one first commanded. No lean is taken here.

Uncertain Whether כֵּאלֹהִים means "like God" (BSB) or "like gods"; Swete has ὡς θεοί, plural. No lean is taken here; see note.language.Gen.1.26.naaseh-let-us and xref.Gen.1.26.Gen.3.22.heb.