Crocodile vs serpent

[yedida]

Looks like an interesting movie (I don't do movies so I'm waaaaay behind the times in that category. I think my last first-run theater movie was......ready for this???.....Disney's Beauty and the Beast!!! Waaaaay behind the times, I am.)

 

[ChavaK]

first-run theater movie was......ready for this???.....Disney's Beauty and the Beast!!! Waaaaay behind the times, I am.)

sounds like you go to movies as often as I do. I don't even bother to rent them, most don't hold my interest...although I do like animated films.

 

[visionary]

I think that it's the opposite – that tannin is used more generically in the Bible. In some contexts, it's a giant sea creature. In others, it's a dragon. In yet others it's some kind of snake, specifically a venomous snake.

What I find interesting is that in some situations, aka the Nile river, dragons is not something I picture, but rather the crocodile making more sense than even snakes. Was the creature the same one in every instance, I don't think so.

 

[ChavaK]

What I find interesting is that in some situations, aka the Nile river, dragons is not something I picture, but rather the crocodile making more sense than even snakes.

I remember when I was in Egypt taking a canoe type of thing out to an island they warned us not to put our hands in the water because of crocodiles; never a word was said about snakes.

 

[yedida]

I remember when I was in Egypt taking a canoe type of thing out to an island they warned us not to put our hands in the water because of crocodiles; never a word was said about snakes.

Yeah, I've heard that crocs like hands. A delicacy sort of thing.

 

[visionary]

Yeah, I've heard that crocs like hands. A delicacy sort of thing.

Head line news from the Nile Reporter.. Bodies are turning up all along side the Nile, bodies strewn upon the shores without hands...lol .. I can see it all now..

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Shemot 7:9-15

In the text, verses 9-12 the Hebrew word is not "serpent"נָחָשׁ but "crocodile" תַנִּין. In verse 15 it reverts back to "serpent" נָחָשׁ.
Why do you suppose the Hebrew word crocodile used, why is it translated into English as serpent, and why does the Hebrew change back to serpent in vs 15?

For a good review on that..

• Genesis--Leviticus - Google Books Result

The work of Rabbi Natan Slifkin also came to mind, as discussed here , here , and here . For he is the director of Zoo Torah--and though he has gotten into trouble for teaching evolution to his children, many of the things he has often noted in his books and reviews are quite brilliant, IMHO.




It was interesting to consider how Aaron's staff differs in ability (according to the wording ) from that of Moses's staff. For the first cycle of plagues come by Aaron’s staff and not Moses staff (cf 7:19; 8:5-6; 8:16-17). When Aaron throws his staff down the English translation says it will become a serpent but the Hebrew text says a crocodile (tannin). Moses staff became a “serpent” (nachash) in the sight of the elders of Israel to convince them that Moses was YHWH’s chosen prophet (Exod 4:1-5)...and it is interesting to note how that miracle was well-suited for the desert environment. But with Aaron's staff, if seeing how it transformed into a crocodile , that would be sensible since it is well-suited for Egyptian environment. ...and very scary, as it was Egypt's top predator and having it transform before Pharoah would have given a clear sign that the Lord was in charge.


The view of seeing both serpents and crocodiles seems to be very reasonable, IMHO, if seeing how differing staffs were utilized...and I'm very glad for those who've sought to do as much scholarly work in noting so. Seeing movies like "The Prince of Egypt" (probably one of my favorite animated features), I would've loved to see how it would've looked if the staff of Moses had turned into a crocodile

The Prince of Egypt - Playing With The Big Boys / HD 720p ​

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Moses and His Crocodile Christian perspective

Love the work of Dr.Mariottini, as his article that you referenced is one which really helped me awhile ago when I was pondering on the subject