Final answer:
The death God meant in Genesis when warning Adam and Eve encompasses both spiritual death, which is separation from God, and physical death, introducing mortality into the human experience. Additionally, the narrative engages with themes of free will and the problem of evil.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns what kind of death God meant when He told Adam and Eve they would die if they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, as found in the book of Genesis. This death is understood in a spiritual and physical sense. Physical death entered the world as their bodies would eventually deteriorate and die, which did not occur before the Fall. The spiritual death refers to separation from God, as they were no longer in perfect union with Him. The presence of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden symbolizes the eternal life that was lost as a consequence of their disobedience.
In the broader theological and philosophical context, this narrative also deals with themes of free will, foreknowledge, and the problem of evil. God providing humans with the ability to make choices indicates the value placed on free will. The divine foreknowledge of the Fall and the subsequent actions of humanity raise complex questions about responsibility and divine justice. It also underscores the enduring human struggle with the knowledge of good and evil and the resulting moral responsibilities.