What is the meaning of knowing good and evil?

Definition and Biblical Context

The phrase “knowing good and evil” emerges prominently in Scripture during the account of humanity’s early history. In Genesis, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil becomes a central element of the narrative. The phrase indicates more than simple awareness; it suggests a moral discernment and personal responsibility distinct from mere innocence.

In Genesis 2:16–17, the LORD God explicitly commands: “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” This warning underscores the serious weight of such knowledge. It is also an affirmation that human beings are to trust the Creator’s guidance rather than presuming to grasp moral autonomy.

Connection to the Fall in Genesis

The significance of knowing good and evil is directly tied to the Fall. After the serpent tempts the woman, we read in Genesis 3:5: “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The temptation suggests that by seizing this knowledge apart from God’s will, humans could become independent arbiters of morality.

Following this disobedience, Genesis 3:7 states: “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” Their immediate awareness of their own vulnerability is a swift realization that the knowledge they sought has consequences—shame, moral self-awareness, and a broken relationship with their Creator. Genesis 3:22 then records: “Then the LORD God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil…’” indicating that while Adam and Eve gained moral insight, they lost their original innocence and direct fellowship with God.

Moral Responsibility and Accountability

Knowing good and evil carries the implication of moral responsibility. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve existed in a state of innocence. Afterward, they became subjects to conscience, accountable to God’s standard. Romans 2:14–15 highlights that even Gentiles have the law “written on their hearts”—suggesting that all humanity has some innate sense of right and wrong.

This accountability means that sin’s reality is universally recognized, creating a spiritual struggle within the human heart (cf. Romans 7:21–23). This tension demonstrates that while humans do “know” good, they fail to perfectly embrace it without divine help.

Biblical Exploration of Good and Evil

Scripture repeatedly contrasts good and evil. Isaiah 5:20 warns, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” This verse underscores how perverting the definitions of right and wrong leads to destructive confusion. Proverbs 1:7 affirms, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,” indicating that a genuine understanding of moral truth arises from a right relationship with God.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, “good” is what aligns with God’s nature and commandments; “evil” is what diverges from Him. By placing trust in God's Word, believers grow in wisdom and discernment (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:105).

The Role of Conscience and God’s Law

Human beings bear the image of their Creator (Genesis 1:27), and therefore possess a conscience enabling them to recognize moral realities (Romans 2:14–16). However, conscience alone is insufficient to fully live out good; it must be shaped by God’s revealed law, which clarifies His moral standards (Exodus 20:1–17).

In addition, Scripture shows that the law underscores humanity’s need for divine deliverance. Galatians 3:24 declares, “So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” By seeing sin for what it is—rebellion against God’s moral order—human hearts are directed toward dependence on God’s grace in Christ.

Redemption and the Restoration of Knowledge

While “knowing good and evil” initially brought shame and separation, the redemptive work of Christ offers renewed fellowship with God and the possibility of applying this knowledge rightly. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In His resurrection (documented with a multitude of historical evidences: the empty tomb, multiple eyewitness accounts such as in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, and corroborated by early creeds), Jesus Christ confirmed that humanity’s original purpose—to share in God’s holiness—can be reclaimed. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are progressively sanctified, learning to “discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10).

Eternal Perspective and Practical Implications

Knowing good and evil is not merely theoretical; it has practical outworkings that determine eternal destiny. James 4:17 exhorts, “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.” True wisdom is learning to live according to God’s truth rather than the dictates of sinful human inclination.

In daily life, such discernment means aligning one’s will with God’s revealed Word. This includes humility instead of pride, service instead of selfishness, and love instead of hate. Romans 12:9 instructs, “Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.” As believers embrace this teaching, they demonstrate genuine understanding of good and evil in both attitude and action.

Conclusion

The meaning of knowing good and evil, from Scripture’s perspective, is far-reaching. It springs from the account of humanity’s fall from innocence into moral consciousness. It points to our responsibility before a holy God who has provided not only instruction but also a path to salvation through Jesus Christ.

God alone is the ultimate standard for good, and His Word reveals His character and will. While Adam and Eve’s initial pursuit of moral knowledge apart from God introduced sin into the human condition, Christ’s redemptive work allows believers to live out the knowledge of good and evil as God intended—transformed and guided by the Spirit, to honor Him and ultimately fulfill life’s highest purpose.