What does it mean when God tells Adam, “For dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19)?

Answer

Genesis 2:7 teaches that God created Adam from the dust of the earth: “The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” After Adam sinned, God informed him that he would toil the earth his entire life. It would be frustrating and difficult. Ultimately, Adam’s lifelong work would end in death, and he would return to the dust from which he was created. Death was the final consequence of Adam’s choice to sin. In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam, “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (NKJV).

God formed each element of creation with His word. He spoke, and it came to be. However, God specially formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Humanity is made from a combination of the earth and the life-giving breath of God Himself. The glory of God is evident in His breath within us, while being made from the dust of the earth serves as a reminder of our lowliness and dependence on Him. God’s declaration to Adam that “to dust you shall return” is final and gave Adam a continual awareness that one day he would physically die.

The curse of death that came upon Adam was passed on to all humans who have lived since. Because of Adam, sin entered the world, as stated in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” All were condemned because of sin (verse 18), and death came to all humanity (verse 15; 1 Corinthians 15:22). All people are sinners, as mentioned in Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

(Romans 5:19) and will one day die and face judgment before God «And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: », (Hebrews 9:27). The reality that “to dust you shall return” applies to everyone. For those who have faith in Christ, however, the curse of death will be conquered (Ephesians 2:1-10). Instead of fearing death, believers have the confidence of eternity that influences the way we live.

Peter encourages believers to remember that we are travelers and temporary residents, and therefore we are “to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” «Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; », (1 Peter 2:11). The certainty that “to dust you shall return” should humble us to seek and follow God. Our time on earth is brief compared to eternity. Paul refers to our bodies as “earthly tents” in 2 Corinthians 5:1. This world is not our permanent home, and our bodies are meant to return to dust. While on earth we may groan and feel burdened, the promise of resurrection and eternity with God in a heavenly dwelling is given to those who belong to Christ «For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. », (2 Corinthians 5:4). We should not become so caught up in the matters of this world that we overlook what holds eternal significance.

James also reminds believers, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” «whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time,and then vanishes away.” , (James 4:14). We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors, sharing the gospel with others and urging them to be reconciled with God “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” , (2 Corinthians 5:20). In light of the brevity of life, we should take account of how we live. Instead of living for ourselves, we should live for God and do good (James 4:16-17). “To dust you shall return” should impact how we live and what our lives are about.

As pioneer missionary C. T. Studd penned, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, / Only what’s done for Christ will last.” God’s declaration to Adam that “to dust you shall return” still rings true for every person today. We all come from dust, and we will all return back to it. What happens in between matters. May we live our lives for His glory, in obedience to Him and telling others of the hope we have in Christ. May many turn to Him before it is too late.