The Hebrew construction here, mot tamut, is emphatic, consisting of an infinitive absolute followed by the imperfective verb, dyingly you will die. It is a kind of expression not found in the English language. The imperfective, introduced by the temporal clause, "when you eat of it," makes the event of death as still to come, but the infinitive absolute-imperfective combination makes it certain. It is not a question of 'if' but a matter of 'when' death will occur.
Many commentators and preachers like to suggest that what is meant here is not physical death, but spiritual. This, however, represents a "reading back" of what can only be appreciated from later parts of Bible into the verse. This is the first time the verb 'die' appears in the Bible, and the author is satisfied just to leave the matter as certain that it will happen but undefined about what it actually involves. Defining it as meaning 'spiritual' death rubs the emphasis and the mystery and suspense out of the narrative.
©Alberith, 2022
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