The phrase “you shall surely die” can be literally translated from the Hebrew biblical text as “dying you shall die.” In the Hebrew phrase we find the imperfect form of the Hebrew verb (you shall die) with the infinitive absolute form of the same verb (dying). This presence of the infinitive absolute intensifies the meaning of the imperfect verb (hence the usual translation of “you shall surely die”). This grammatical construction is quite common in the Old Testament, not just with this verb but others also, and does indicate (or intensify) the certainty of the action. The scholarly reference work by Bruce K. Waltke and M. O’Conner, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1990), gives many Biblical examples of this,
1 and they say that “the precise nuance of intensification [of the verbal meaning] must be discovered from the broader context.”
2 Clearly in the context of Genesis 3, Adam and Eve died spiritually instantly—they were separated from God and hid themselves. Their relationship with God was broken. But in
Romans 5:12 we see in context that Paul is clearly speaking of physical death (Jesus’ physical death,
verses 8–10, and other men’s physical death, in
verse 14). We also find the same comparison of physical death and physical resurrection in
1 Corinthians 15:20–22. So both spiritual death and physical death are the consequences of Adam’s fall.