Serpent

Serpent, The frequent mention of this creature in the Bible, together with the important part which it plays in early mythology, justifies a fuller treatment of the subject here than could well be given under the special terms by which the several species are designated. To these, however, we also refer as affording further details on certain points.

I. Bible Names. — The following are the Heb. and Gr. words by which either the serpent in general or some particular kind is represented in the A.V. with great variety and little precision.

1. Nachash (נָחָשׁ, so called probably from its hissing; Sept. and New Test. ὄφις) the generic name of any serpent, occurs frequently in the Old Test. The following are the principal Biblical allusions to this animal: Its subtlety is mentioned in Genesis 3:1; its wisdom is alluded to by our Lord in Matthew 10:16. The poisonous properties of some species are often mentioned (see Psalms 58:4; Proverbs 23:32); the sharp tongue of the serpent, which it would appear some of the ancient Hebrews believed to be the instrument of poison, is mentioned in Psalms 140:3; Job 20:16, “the viper’s tongue shall slay him;” although in other places, as in Proverbs 23:32; Ecclesiastes 10:8,11; Numbers 21:9, the venom is correctly ascribed to the bite, while in Job 20:14 the gall is said to be the poison. The habit serpents have of lying concealed in hedges is alluded to in Ecclesiastes 10:8, and in holes of walls, in Amos 5:19; their dwelling in dry, sandy places, in Deuteronomy 8:15. Their wonderful mode of progression did not escape the observation of the author of Proverbs 30 who expressly mentions it as “one of the three things which were too wonderful for him” (ver. 19).. The oviparous nature of most of the order is alluded to in Isaiah 59:5, where the A.V., however, has the unfortunate rendering of “cockatrice.” The art of taming and charming serpents is of great antiquity, and is alluded to in Psalms 58:5; Ecclesiastes 10:11; Jeremiah 8:17, and doubtless intimated by James (James 3:7), who particularizes serpents among all other animals that “have been tamed by man.” SEE SERPENT CHARMING.

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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia

Keywords: Serpent

Bible reference(s): 2 Corinthians 11:3, Acts 28:3, Amos 5:19, Deuteronomy 32:33, Deuteronomy 8:15, Ecclesiastes 10:8, Exodus 7:9, Genesis 3:1, Genesis 49:17, Isaiah 11:8, Isaiah 14:29, Isaiah 16:14, Isaiah 30:6, Isaiah 54:5, Isaiah 55:13, Isaiah 59:5, James 3:7, Jeremiah 8:17, Job 20:16, Matthew 10:16, Micah 7:7, Numbers 21:9, Proverbs 23:32, Psalms 140:3, Psalms 58:4, Psalms 90:13, Psalms 91:13, Revelation 12:9, Romans 3:13

Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.

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