The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is introduced in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. God explicitly tells Adam and Eve not to eat from this tree, as Genesis 2:16-17 states, “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, or in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Adam and Eve were innocent and sinless, and they had no concept of evil, or even right and wrong.

For this reason, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was very deadly: “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which bestowed power and control, was dangerous, and its fruit carried the seeds of death” (Pentiuc, 2006, p. 26). However, Eve was led into temptation by the serpent, and she tasted the fruit from the tree. After tasting this fruit, she also offered it to Adam, who could not resist Eve’s offering. Adam and Eve soon realized the treachery that they had fallen into, and they were cursed. According to Genesis 3:22, “The Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”

Shortly after this declaration, Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden because they could no longer live in a perfect environment. Therefore, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil explains the origins of sin.