King James Bible
"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:"
This introduces God's first direct command to humanity, establishing the divine-human relationship as one of authority and communication. The use of God's covenant name (LORD/Yahweh) alongside the generic term for deity (God/Elohim) emphasizes both His personal relationship with Adam and His sovereign power. God grants Adam access to the garden's full abundance, highlighting divine generosity and the original state of plenty in Eden. The emphasis on "every" tree underscores the breadth of provision, setting up the contrast with the single prohibition that follows in verse 17. The Hebrew construction emphasizes complete freedom and permission, literally "eating you shall eat." This generous allowance establishes human freedom within divine boundaries and shows God's desire for humanity to enjoy creation's bounty without restriction, except for one notable exception.