What does it mean? Positively You Will Die (Gen 2:17)

[Alejandro]

This expression has caught my attention because it is not a commonly used phrase, nor does it have a clear meaning in terms of the Spanish language. Perhaps, it could be referring to the idea of having a positive attitude towards life, or an optimistic outlook towards death. Specifically, I understand that it could be interpreted as facing death with acceptance, peace and serenity. So when God said, "Positively you will die," was he saying that we would die with the desire to go on living?

[Dolce vita]

Very interesting to read this difference. In french,, brother @Alejandro, Gen 2:17 is rendered 'you will surely die'. It means:  no doubt about the outcome, death is certified by Jehovah. This notion of positivism as the Spanish language render it is therefore not introduced in the verse.

[Brandon]

57 minutes ago, Alejandro said:

"Positively you will die," was he saying that we would die

Hold on, you’re forgetting the words were directed to them, A&E, not directly to us.

 

We inherited imperfection but that doesn’t mean we are sentenced to complete/irreversible death like them.

[Hinata]

That is not the meaning of positive used in that sentence. The word positive can also mean assured, certain.

 

positive

1 of 2

adjective

pos·i·tive ˈpä-zə-tiv ˈpäz-tiv

Synonyms of positive

1

a

: formally laid down or imposed : PRESCRIBED

positive laws

b

: expressed clearly or peremptorily

her answer was a positive no

c

: fully assured : CONFIDENT

positive it was her book

 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/positively

 

[Tortuga]

I can understand the challenges the translation teams have translating the Bible and publications into different languages. I never considered that someone would think that scripture means "Cheerfully you will die"

[daydream]

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Génesis 2:17&version=NVI

Gen 2 :17 pero del árbol del conocimiento del bien y del mal no deberás comer. El día que de él comas, sin duda morirás

(The day you eat of it, you will surely die)

 

Génesis 2:17 Pero no debes comer del árbol del conocimiento de lo bueno y lo malo, porque el día en que comas de él sin falta morirás”.

(for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.")
https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=S&pub=nwtsty&srctype=wol&bible=1002017&srcid=share

 

Br. Alejandro, can you provide more details regarding your topic? 

Spoiler

 

[Dages]

The expression in Hebrew is found again in Jer 26:8

[Ishaya]

Language changes over time,perhaps the former users of the Spanish language understood the expression in the right sense of it.

 

"Positively" as an adjective in that expression strongly affirms the action specified which is death,so that Adam is in no doubt about it.

[carlos]

16 hours ago, Alejandro said:

So when God said, "Positively you will die," was he saying that we would die with the desire to go on living?

 

Alejandro, that's what the old Spanish NWT said. Although the expression was correct, it was unclear because it's not commonly used in Spanish. However the revised version we use now makes it perfectly clear: "el día que comas de él sin falta morirás" = "you will certainly die".

 

Jehovah was saying that death was not a possibility, something that might happen, or that maybe they could escape somehow. If they ate from the tree they would die with all certainty.