Genesis 3:18

18. Thorns also and thistles Not that these had never yet grown, though they may not have existed in the garden . They become a curse and a plague by often outstripping the better herbs . They become luxuriant in spite of human effort to root them up and destroy them, while the much desired edible products of the soil demand great labour, sweat, and care . This fact should also remind fallen man that evil will grow in his heart more readily than good, and the “fruits of the Spirit” are not obtained and kept except by constant watching and working. The wild olive grows untilled, but not the good olive-tree; if that receive not cultivation, it will also run wild. Romans 11:24.

Thou shalt eat the herb of the field These words may be understood as enhancing the idea of the curse and vexation of thorns and thistles just mentioned . Thus taking herb, in the broad sense of vegetable products necessary to man’s subsistence, the thought would be: The herb of the field will be necessary for thy subsistence; but not as heretofore will it grow without the troublesome admixture of thorns and thistles . These ugly growths will furnish an element of vexation in procuring thy daily bread . But a better view is, that which takes the herb of the field as a sad contrast of the fruit of the trees of the garden . Genesis 2:16; compare Genesis 3:2. The fruits of Eden, furnished in profusion and without laborious toil, shall be thine no longer, but in their stead thou shalt be compelled to eat the herbs of the field.