(lambda args body) is not the same as ($vau args env body), because the latter doesn't evaluate its operands. Lambda in Kernel is defined as follows: ($defi

(lambda args body) is not the same as ($vau args env body), because the latter doesn't evaluate its operands. Lambda in Kernel is defined as follows: ($define! $lambda ($vau (formals . body) env (wrap (eval (list* $vau formals #ignore body) env)))) When you say ($lambda (x) x), a new fexpr (that ignores the environment in which it is called, because lambdas don't need it) is constructed -- ($vau (x) #ignore x) -- and then it is wrapped, so that its operands are evaluated. So, (lambda args body) can be expressed as (wrap ($vau args #ignore body))