Is the Earth Bountiful or Cursed?
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 3:18 contradicts Genesis 1:29, Genesis 1:31, Isaiah 55:13 and Revelation 22:3. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
When we examine scripture from the early chapters of Genesis, we encounter a fascinating series of contradictions concerning the state of the earth and humanity’s relationship with it. On one hand, Genesis 1:29 vividly describes an idyllic scenario where God grants mankind access to all seed-bearing plants and trees. This imagery suggests abundance and ease, where the earth provides plentiful resources for sustenance without much toil.
Continuing this narrative of perfection, Genesis 1:31 declares that everything God made was "very good", portraying a world in harmony, free from imperfection and struggle. Yet, a few chapters later, Genesis 3:18 paints a starkly different picture. This verse introduces thorns and thistles into the world as a direct consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, implying that man's relationship with the earth has become strained and laborious. It’s as if the world of effortless harvest was replaced by one where survival requires hard work and perseverance.
This dichotomy is echoed in other parts of the Bible. Isaiah 55:13 offers a vision of redemption, where instead of thorns, cypress trees will rise, symbolizing restoration and renewal. This prophetic promise contrasts sharply with the cursed landscape detailed in Genesis 3:18. Similarly, Revelation 22:3 foresees a time when curses no longer exist, a future where the toil of Genesis is undone, and harmony is restored.
These opposing visions within scripture leave us pondering: Was the earth created as a bountiful paradise or cursed with struggle following humankind’s fall? Does the progression from Genesis to Revelation signal a journey from perfection, through hardship, back to perfection? Much like a story interrupted by dramatic plot twists, these contradictory verses engage us in thinking deeply about the unfolding narrative of creation, fall, and redemption.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 3:18 | Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [bring...: Heb. cause to bud] |
| 2. | Genesis 1:29 | And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. [bearing...: Heb. seeding seed] [yielding...: Heb. seeding seed] |
| 3. | Genesis 1:31 | And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. [And the evening...: Heb. And the evening was, and the morning was etc.] |
| 4. | Isaiah 55:13 | Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off. |
| 5. | Revelation 22:3 | And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: |