Do Plants Die?

Answers with Ken Ham

This is Ken Ham, author, speaker, and blogger on science and the Bible’s reliability.

Some people wonder how plants could die before sin if death is the consequence for sin. But let’s consider the definition of die. We commonly use the word “die” to describe when plants, animals, and humans no longer function biologically. But that’s not how the Old Testament uses the word. There’s a specific Hebrew word for die that’s only used in relation to the death of man or animals with the breath of life.

Plants don’t have the breath of life. They’re different from both animal and human life so their “death” before sin is no problem.

Animal and human death is a result of sin.

Dig Deeper

• Do Plants and Leaves Die?
• The Breath of Life