Genesis 3:4

3:4 The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, 1 

Genesis 25:32

25:32 “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die! What use is the birthright to me?” 2 

Genesis 27:2

27:2 Isaac 3  said, “Since 4  I am so old, I could die at any time. 5 

1 tn The response of the serpent includes the infinitive absolute with a blatant negation equal to saying: “Not – you will surely die” (לֹא מוֹת תִּמֻתען, lo’ mot tÿmutun). The construction makes this emphatic because normally the negative particle precedes the finite verb. The serpent is a liar, denying that there is a penalty for sin (see John 8:44).

sn Surely you will not die. Here the serpent is more aware of what the Lord God said than the woman was; he simply adds a blatant negation to what God said. In the account of Jesus’ temptation Jesus is victorious because he knows the scripture better than Satan (Matt 4:1-11).

2 tn Heb “And what is this to me, a birthright?”

3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaac) is specified in the translation for clarity.

4 tn The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) here introduces a logically foundational statement, upon which the coming instruction will be based.

5 tn Heb “I do not know the day of my death.”