Discovery BoxGenesis 3:23 
Context3:23 So the Lord God expelled him 1 from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken.
Genesis 4:12
Context4:12 When you try to cultivate 2 the
ground it will no longer yield 3 its best 4 for you. You will be a homeless wanderer 5 on the earth.”
Genesis 47:23
Context47:23 Joseph said to the people, “Since I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Cultivate 6 the land.
1 tn The verb is the Piel preterite of שָׁלַח (shalakh), forming a wordplay with the use of the same verb (in the Qal stem) in v. 22: To prevent the man’s “sending out” his hand, the
2 tn Heb “work.”
3 tn Heb “it will not again (תֹסֵף, tosef) give (תֵּת, tet),” meaning the ground will no longer yield. In translation the infinitive becomes the main verb, and the imperfect verb form becomes adverbial.
4 tn Heb “its strength.”
5 tn Two similar sounding synonyms are used here: נָע וָנָד (na’ vanad, “a wanderer and a fugitive”). This juxtaposition of synonyms emphasizes the single idea. In translation one can serve as the main description, the other as a modifier. Other translation options include “a wandering fugitive” and a “ceaseless wanderer” (cf. NIV).
6 tn The perfect verbal form with the vav consecutive is equivalent to a command here.
