Eritis sicut dii
“You will be like gods.”
Vulgate, Genesis 3:5
What does “Eritis sicut dii” mean?
Eritis sicut dii translates as “You will be like gods.”
The serpent’s promise to Eve. It is quoted as a warning against pride and the temptation of limitless power.
“Eritis sicut dii” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Eritis | you (all) will be | future tense, 2nd person plural, of sum, “I am”; the speaker addresses more than one person |
| sicut | like, just as | a conjunction used here as a preposition of comparison; it does not change form |
| dii | gods | nominative plural of deus, “god”; dii is the classical plural, also written di or dei |
How to pronounce “Eritis sicut dii”
The stress falls on the first syllable of eritis (the Church version has a slightly softer first vowel) and on the first syllable of sicut. In Classical Latin the c in sicut is a hard k and the final t is a d-like t; in Church Latin the c is still hard, as it comes before u.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “you (plural) will be like gods”. It comes from the Latin Vulgate, the Bible translation made largely by Jerome in the late 4th century, in Genesis 3:5.
In the story, the serpent speaks these words to Eve to persuade her to eat the forbidden fruit. The full verse continues “scientes bonum et malum”, “knowing good and evil”, so the promise is of divine knowledge as well as divine status.
The phrase has lived on as shorthand for human overreach: the wish to hold power or knowledge that belongs beyond human limits. Writers and commentators quote it when discussing pride, ambition and new technologies.
How to use “Eritis sicut dii”
Works well as an epigraph for an essay or talk on technology, ethics, science or ambition, where the temptation of limitless power is the theme. It also suits a dark or ironic motto, but it is a warning in its source, so choose it knowingly.
- Latin
- Eritis sicut dii
- English
- You will be like gods.
- Source
- Vulgate, Genesis 3:5
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Power
Common mistakes
- The speaker is the serpent, not God. It is a temptation, not a blessing or a promise of real divinity.
- Eritis is plural (“you all”). Addressing one person would need eris sicut deus.
- Dii is the plural “gods”. Many people wrongly write deus or dei for this form, or treat it as a singular.
- Cut off from “scientes bonum et malum”, the line loses part of its meaning, since the promise is about knowing good and evil.
Questions about “Eritis sicut dii”
What does “Eritis sicut dii” mean literally?
“You will be like gods.” Eritis is “you (plural) will be”, sicut is “like”, and dii is “gods”.
Where does “Eritis sicut dii” come from?
It is from the Vulgate, Genesis 3:5, where the serpent tempts Eve. The full phrase continues “scientes bonum et malum”.
How do you pronounce “Eritis sicut dii”?
Classical: EH-rih-tees SIH-kood DEE-ee. Church Latin: EH-ree-tees SEE-koot DEE-ee.
Is “Eritis sicut dii” good for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct, but it is addressed to several people and is a temptation in the original story. Check that this tone is what you want, and use eris sicut deus for a singular “you will be like a god”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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