Genesis 2:17
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “Forbidden fruit” Mean?
Something desirable but prohibited.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
God's command to Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge is the original prohibition story. Though the Bible never says the fruit was an apple, the concept of "forbidden fruit" — something tempting precisely because it is off-limits — became one of the most powerful metaphors in Western culture.
The phrase appears in Genesis 2:17 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Anything that becomes more desirable because it's prohibited. "The allure of forbidden fruit makes the restricted data even more tempting."
The KJV Verse
Genesis 2:17
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.”
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