"thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:17-19 . Ed 26.1"
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
This is a direct quote from Genesis 3:19.
"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
Ellen White directly references Genesis 3:17-19 in this passage.
"Although the earth was blighted with the curse, nature was still to be man's lesson book. It could not now represent goodness only; for evil was everywhere present, marring earth and sea and air with its defiling touch. Where once was written only the character of God, the knowledge of good, was now written also the character of Satan, the knowledge of evil. From nature, which now revealed the knowledge of good and evil, man was continually to receive warning as to the results of sin. Ed 26.2"
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
EGW's passage directly references the 'knowledge of good and evil' which is a central theme in Genesis 3:5. The passage expands on the consequences of acquiring this knowledge and how it impacted humanity's relationship with nature.
"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
Both passages discuss the corruption and suffering of creation as a result of sin. EGW's passage focuses on the immediate consequences for Adam and Eve, while Romans 8:20-22 speaks of the broader implications for all creation. The connection is thematic, as both address the impact of sin on the natural world.
"In drooping flower and falling leaf Adam and his companion witnessed the first signs of decay. Vividly was brought to their minds the stern fact that every living thing must die. Even the air, upon which their life depended, bore the seeds of death. Ed 26.3"
"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:"
EGW's passage illustrates the principle of death entering the world through sin, as described in Romans 5:12. The drooping flower and falling leaf are presented as tangible examples of this principle, making the connection direct and meaningful.
"Continually they were reminded also of their lost dominion. Among the lower creatures Adam had stood as king, and so long as he remained loyal to God, all nature acknowledged his rule; but when he transgressed, this dominion was forfeited. The spirit of rebellion, to which he himself had given entrance, extended throughout the animal creation. Thus not only the life of man, but the nature of the beasts, the trees of the forest, the grass of the field, the very air he breathed, all told the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil. Ed 26.4"
"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;"
The EGW passage expands on the curse mentioned in Genesis 3:17, detailing how Adam's sin affected not only the ground but also the animal kingdom and the environment. It's a thematic parallel, elaborating on the consequences of the fall.