וּמֵעֵץ, הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע--לֹא תֹאכַל, מִמֶּנּוּ: כִּי, בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ--מוֹת תָּמוּת. - Bereshis 2:17
Why did not not kill Adam and Eve the very day they ate from the tree of knowledge like he said he would?
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Sign up to join this communityוּמֵעֵץ, הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע--לֹא תֹאכַל, מִמֶּנּוּ: כִּי, בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ--מוֹת תָּמוּת. - Bereshis 2:17
Why did not not kill Adam and Eve the very day they ate from the tree of knowledge like he said he would?
There is a principle of שלוחו של אדם כמותו, that the sending out of Adam is like his death.
But more seriously, on a peshat level, once we look at the context, we can say that this brought mortality to the world, and to humanity. On the day that you eat from the tree, you will become mortal. Which was then why he had to be prevented from eating from the tree of life.
Simply put, HaShem had mercy (link, quoting Vayikra Rabbah 29).
Alternatively, 1000 years is considered one day (Psalms 90:4), so Adam did die on the same "day" as he lived 930 years.
The Ramban brings 3 answers to this question (one of which is citing non-Jewish philosophers that I am not sure he is agreeing to, so I won't be quoting it):
1st explanation:
בעת שתאכל ממנו תהיה בן מות וכמוהו ביום צאתך והלכת אנה ואנה ידוע תדע כי מות תמות (מלכים א ב מב) שאין הכוונה שימות מיד בו ביום ואין הכוונה לידיעה בלבד שידע שימות כי החיים יודעים שימותו כלם אבל הכוונה כי בעת שיצא יהיה חייב מיתה למלך והוא ימית אותו כאשר ירצה
(Translation mine) At the time at which he eats from it he would be subject to death. The intent is not that he would die immediately, nor that he will know that he will [eventually] die, as all life knows they will [eventually] die. Rather, at that point he will be liable to a death penalty, and the King will kill him at the point at which He wants to.
Third explanation:
ועל דעת רבותינו (עיין שבת נה) אלמלא שחטא לא מת לעולם כי הנשמה העליונית נותנת לו חיים לעד והחפץ האלהי אשר בו בעת היצירה יהיה דבק בו תמיד והוא יקיים אותו לעד
(Translation mine) According to our Sages, had he not sinned he would have never died, as his supernal soul would have given him eternal life, and the G-dly will which willed his creation would have maintained him eternally.