Expert: Dean Gade - 9/16/2009

Question
Hello Dan,

When the Bible says Eve was beguiled.  This suggests something other than eating an apple.  What is your take on the translation?  Also the Bible says replenish the earth.  What is the meaning of "replenish"?

Answer
First, the translation:
The word for beguiled in Hebrew is "nasha" and means, "lead astray,delude,seduce". This Hebrew word is also used in the following places:

2 Ki 19:10
10 "Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'
NIV

Ps 55:15
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the grave,
for evil finds lodging among them.
NIV

Jer 4:10
10 Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, how completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'You will have peace,' when the sword is at our throats."
NIV

Ob 3-4
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks
and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
'Who can bring me down to the ground?'
4 Though you soar like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,"
     declares the Lord.
NIV


The DECEPTION is multiple. Eve was was lead to believe that God had lied to her, that she wouldn't die if she disobeyed God's command, and that God was trying to hold her back from her full potential and enjoyment of life.
The fruit of this tree, "the knowledge of good and evil" was destructive and still is today.  It is the determination of what is "good" and what is "evil" according to ourselves and not according to God.  It is "judging" everything and everyone (even judging ourselves) according to our reason, bias and feelings at the time.  Our judgment(and that of others towards us) still brings death to our "souls" and those we judge every day.


REPLENISH is the Hebrew "mala" and is a common word for "fill" in the widest application.
Here are just a few samples of its use:

Ge 6:11
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
KJV

Ex 1:7
7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
KJV

Jdg 17:5
5 And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. (consecrated)
KJV

1 Sa 18:27
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired .(expired)
KJV

Job 15:32
32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.(accomplished)
KJV

Ps 71:8
8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
KJV

Isa 14:21
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
KJV

Eze 23:33
33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.
KJV