"Ve'achalta es Eisev ha'Sadeh" - Why was this a curse, considering that earlier (in Bereishis 1:29), Hashem told Adam that He had blessed him by giving him the 'grass' of the field?
Rashi and Moshav Zekenim: The Pasuk here is merely elaborating on the curse mentioned in the previous Pasuk - and what it means is that, when Adam would plant legumes or vegetables, it would produce thorns and thistles 1 and other kinds of grasses, which he would be forced to eat.
Targum Yonasan: Initially, Adam was cursed in that he would have to munch grass directly from the ground together with his animals. 2 However, after praying to Hashem to distinguish between him and them, his prayers were accepted. Instead, he would have to work by the sweat of his brow in order to prepare his food. 3
Gur Aryeh: If the earth were to bring up thorns in places that had not been worked or planted at all, why is that a curse ; what else should it sprout? Rather, Man would plant seeds, and find only thorns.
See also Torah Temimah, citing Pesachim 118a.
Which he preferred to the embarrassment of grazing in the meadow together with the sheep and cows.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "It will sprout... Kundas and Acaviyos, which are edible through [extra] preparation." What are these species?
Gur Aryeh: The Aruch explains that they are bitter vegetables. Rashi adds that they are edible in the end; as the verse concludes, "And you shall eat the herbs of the field."
Rashi writes: "... With no choice, you will eat them." What does Rashi mean?
Gur Aryeh: A person would not willingly choose to consume these species. The curse is that Adam will have to eat only these, and not other vegetables, for these are all that will grow.
