Was Satan the snake in Genesis?

[JohnClay]

It seems that the author of Genesis is saying that there was a talking snake - it talked not because it was possessed, but because "the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made". Also Matthew 10:16 says "...be as wise as snakes..." So the intelligence seems to come from the animal rather than from the devil using it like a puppet.

2 Corinthians 11:3 says "...Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning...". 2 Corinthians mentions Satan 3 times (2:11, 11:14, 12:7) - if the serpent was Satan it should have said so.

1 Timothy 2:14 says that the woman was deceived - it doesn't mention by who, though 1 Timothy mentions Satan in other places (1:20, 5:15).

Also the animal is punished: "Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life".

BTW serpents aren't always bad - Numbers 21:9:
"...Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."

John 3:14 even says that Jesus is like that snake:
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up"

I think one of the only passages that supports the idea that Satan was the talking snake is Revelation which calls Satan the "ancient serpent".

Some Christians say that the curse of the snake contains the gospel message but I'm not sure that has direct Biblical support.

I think it is very common for Christians to believe that Satan was the serpent - after all it might sound a bit ridiculous for there to be an intelligent talking snake.

 

[HTacianas]

It seems that the author of Genesis is saying that there was a talking snake - it talked not because it was possessed, but because "the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made". Also Matthew 10:16 says "...be as wise as snakes..." So the intelligence seems to come from the animal rather than from the devil using it like a puppet.

2 Corinthians 11:3 says "...Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning...". 2 Corinthians mentions Satan 3 times (2:11, 11:14, 12:7) - if the serpent was Satan it should have said so.

1 Timothy 2:14 says that the woman was deceived - it doesn't mention by who, though 1 Timothy mentions Satan in other places (1:20, 5:15).

Also the animal is punished: "Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life".

BTW serpents aren't always bad - Numbers 21:9:
"...Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."

John 3:14 even says that Jesus is like that snake:
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up"

I think one of the only passages that supports the idea that Satan was the talking snake is Revelation which calls Satan the "ancient serpent".

Some Christians say that the curse of the snake contains the gospel message but I'm not sure that has direct Biblical support.

I think it is very common for Christians to believe that Satan was the serpent - after all it might sound a bit ridiculous for there to be an intelligent talking snake.

The most likely culprit is an ancient Babylonian god depicted as a serpent with legs. Google "Ishtar gate" and you can see an image of it.

 

[Not David]

Apocryphal books have described Satan as the one who tempted Adam and Eve.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

Yes. To tired to expound upon it.
And , something to ponder, they walked upright until Satan used that particular creature to beguile Eve then it was cursed to slither .

 

[ewq1938]

I think it is very common for Christians to believe that Satan was the serpent

I wonder why...

Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

 

[ewq1938]

Yes. To tired to expound upon it.
And , something to ponder, they walked upright until Satan used that particular creature to beguile Eve then it was cursed to slither .

Snakes didn't used to walk upright...nor was the ability of walking taken away as part of any punishment.

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Going upon it's belly was the already nature mode of travel. Eating dust was the punishment and it's symbolic of being a lowly, hated created.

 

[JohnClay]

I wonder why...

Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Yes I said "I think one of the only passages that supports the idea that Satan was the talking snake is Revelation". That is talking about the author of Revelation's view. If it was Satan's fault, not an animal, I wonder why the animal is punished rather than Satan. The punishment should be being sent to the lake of fire or whatever Satan's punishment is.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The Hebrew root for serpent is revealing. The word snake is derived figuratively from the root, not literally.

 

[JohnClay]

Snakes didn't used to walk upright...nor was the ability of walking taken away as part of any punishment.
....
Going upon it's belly was the already nature mode of travel.

"Why Snakes Don't Have Legs (For Now)"
Why Snakes Don't Have Legs (For Now)

BTW Ricky Gervais made a joke like that - that the the snake already was on its belly so it wasn't really a punishment.

 

[ItIsFinished!]

Snakes didn't used to walk upright...nor was the ability of walking taken away as part of any punishment.

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Going upon it's belly was the already nature mode of travel. Eating dust was the punishment and it's symbolic of being a lowly, hated created.

You cannot prove they didn't and I cannot prove they did either, but by The Word of God it seems they walked up right until Satan used them as a host to beguile Eve.
Why in the world would Satan use a slithering creature to deceive Eve?
Seriously.

 

[JohnClay]

Apocryphal books have described Satan as the one who tempted Adam and Eve.

I was wondering what books? Any from the Old Testament time?

 

[JohnClay]

You cannot prove they didn't and I cannot prove they did either, but by The Word of God it seems they walked up right until Satan used them as a host to beguile Eve.
Why in the world would Satan use a slithering creature to deceive Eve?
Seriously.

I've seen pictures of the serpent standing on 2 legs but I thought it would have been on four legs....

 

[Rubiks]

Apocryphal books have described Satan as the one who tempted Adam and Eve.

The book of Enoch, in particular.

 

[Rubiks]

I wonder why...

Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

That's only if you read this verse into the Genesis account.

 

[JohnClay]

The book of Enoch, in particular.

How the Serpent Became Satan - Biblical Archaeology Society
says:
"In 1 Enoch, the “angel” who “led Eve astray” and “showed the weapons of death to the children of men” was called Gadreel (not Satan)."

Is that wrong?

 

[JohnClay]

About Revelation:
How the Serpent Became Satan - Biblical Archaeology Society

But curiously, although the author of Revelation describes Satan as “the ancient serpent” (Revelation 12:9; 20:2), there is no clear link anywhere in the Bible between Satan and Eden’s talking snake.
....
So the reference in Revelation 12:9 to Satan as “the ancient serpent” probably reflects mythical monsters like Leviathan rather than the clever, legged, talking creature in Eden.

Though I think it is reasonable to think it was refering to Eden.

 

[Erik Nelson]

Outline of Biblical Usage (from BLB)
snake, serpent

1. with the ancients, the serpent was an emblem of cunning and wisdom.
2. The serpent who deceived Eve was regarded by the Jews as the devil.

Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:19 clearly associate the serpent (Greek ophis) with Eden ("wise/cunning as serpents", "tread on serpents")

 

[JohnClay]

...Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:19 clearly associate the serpent (Greek ophis) with Eden ("wise/cunning as serpents", "tread on serpents")

The treading on serpents part sounds like what some Christians say is talking about the gospel in the curse. But it also mentions scorpions so it appears to be talking about animals rather than Jesus having victory over Satan - unless scorpions mean demons/devils.

 

[Anto9us]

Balaam's donkey talked, and did not get accused of being Satan

 

[JohnClay]

Balaam's donkey talked, and did not get accused of being Satan

Yes it says "Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth" - it seemed to be using its own intelligence.