What was the serpent?

[Edgeworth]

You know the serpent that "tricked" Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, what exactly was it? Satan? Just a clever little snake? What exactly?

 

[LuvAslan]

it was Satan in snake form, plain and simple.

 

[hlaltimus]

It was Satan or Lucifer. It is my conviction that when Satan, and the angels that he duped fell, they were physically altered for the worse, or, made very, very ugly relative to their former pristine appearance. Satan used a snake, partially, because Eve would have quickly been offended if she saw the appearance of this horrible being and so question his verity. A snake, let's face it, is actually a rather beautiful creature. Satan, via the serpent, succeeded in corrupting Eve, but his real target was Adam. When he got the man, he got the whole human race as the nature came only through the man while the physical child's creation waited upon both the man and the woman. You may accuse the Devil of being morally corrupt, yes...But void of cleverness, never.

 

[TexasGirl06]

You know the serpent that "tricked" Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, what exactly was it? Satan? Just a clever little snake? What exactly?

The snake in the Garden was Satan.

 

[thedream233]

It was Satan or Lucifer. It is my conviction that when Satan, and the angels that he duped fell, they were physically altered for the worse, or, made very, very ugly relative to their former pristine appearance. Satan used a snake, partially, because Eve would have quickly been offended if she saw the appearance of this horrible being and so question his verity. A snake, let's face it, is actually a rather beautiful creature. Satan, via the serpent, succeeded in corrupting Eve, but his real target was Adam. When he got the man, he got the whole human race as the nature came only through the man while the physical child's creation waited upon both the man and the woman. You may accuse the Devil of being morally corrupt, yes...But void of cleverness, never.

could you list bible verses that have this information?

 

[Zeena]

This is the closest I could find without a thorough study -->

Matthew 4:3
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

And, in another passage it says this -->

Mark 1:13
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

In referance to the same instance

And again, speaking specifially of Satan -->

1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

 

[Edgar40]

Who was the Serpent?

Actually the Bible explains very clearly, if we know where to look.

The home of this serpent was originally in Heaven.

Rev 12:7-8
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

So the Serpent must first have been in heaven in order for him to be cast out of heaven.

We know that the name of this serpent was Lucifer, who became known as Satan.

We can also seee that Lucifer was an Angel in charge of other Angels.

Revalation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,Who became known called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

And in Isaiah 14:12 we see that originaly Lucifer was called son of dawn.

So who was the serpent?, according to the Bible he was An Angel in charge of other Angels.

So the serpent/snake as mentioned in Genesis is symbolic of a fallen angel.

So the serpent was Lucifer, leader of Angels. A Spiritual being.

Edgar40

 

[Zeena]

He was referred to as the day star [son of dawn] because he sat on the Mercy seat of God:o

Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

But NOW Jesus sits there!
And us in Him!

 

[ebia]

You know the serpent that "tricked" Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, what exactly was it? Satan? Just a clever little snake? What exactly?

It's a story to teach something. Asking "exactly what was X" is kind of meaningless.

 

[Edgar40]

It's a story to teach something. Asking "exactly what was X" is kind of meaningless.

Here is a thought....

If the Serpent was symbolic for a fallen Angel, what about the other charactors in the story?

Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge of good and Evil, The fruit which grew on the TKGE.

Maybe they also are symbolic of something?

For example, Jesus is reffered to as the Tree of Life.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.


Edgar40

 

[ebia]

Here is a thought....

If the Serpent was symbolic for a fallen Angel, what about the other charactors in the story?

Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge of good and Evil, The fruit which grew on the TKGE.

Maybe they also are symbolic of something?

For example, Jesus is reffered to as the Tree of Life.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.


Edgar40

There is nothing wrong with exploring that, but the story shouldn't be taken for strict allegory, where everything is symbolic of exactly one thing, anymore than it should be taken as literal history.

 

[Edgar40]

There is nothing wrong with exploring that, but the story shouldn't be taken for strict allegory, where everything is symbolic of exactly one thing, anymore than it should be taken as literal history.

True, but an interesting possibility.

Edgar40

 

[Calminian]

Great question.

You know the serpent that "tricked" Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, what exactly was it? Satan? Just a clever little snake? What exactly?

Actually the answer is kind of yes and yes. I would submit that the original snake was a clever little creature. But the tempter was actually Satan, the fallen angel once called Lucifer. The snake was merely an instrument. Since Genesis is written as historical narrative, complete with genealogies, the story should be taken literally as it has throughout all of christian history (until very recently).

In regard to the nature of this literal creature, I reject the idea that Satan simply took the form of a snake. The text clearly identifies the serpent as an animal.

Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made...

Young's Literal Translation puts it like this.

Gen. 3:1 And the serpent hath been subtile above every beast of the field which Jehovah God hath made

The idea is that this animal had cleverness and intelligence that surpassed all other animals at that time. He could talk! He could reason. The original world was vastly different than the one we live in now. I think it's very reasonable to believe many other animals were capable of speech as well. Parrots are capable of speech today, but can't converse as we do. But perhaps back then they could. But for certain the snake could and did so better than all the other animals. This made him a choice instrument of Satan. Even until now Satan has been using men to tempt and spread his mischief. He used Judas as an instrument.

Luke 22:2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

Even Peter was used when Satan was trying to prevent the crucifixion. Jesus recognized this and rebuked the true agent.

Matt. 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter of course did not understand the significance of Jesus’ coming death, but Satan did and sought to prevent it. He often uses beings unaware to accomplish his purposes. This is where I believe the snake came into the picture. I don’t believe Satan simply transformed himself into a snake. He rather incited it, just as he has done throughout history. I don’t even think it was demon possession. Just a very clever manipulation of a very clever animal.

And I don’t think the snake itself was actually morally culpable for what it did. Only men were created with such responsibilities. The curse on the snake was symbolic of Satan’s fall, and not a punishment of the actual animal. Perhaps this is what John had in mind when he wrote,

Rev. 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

The snake kind was changed in at least two very significant ways. It no longer had speech and intelligence, and now was to move on its belly much closer to the earth. (many think it originally had legs) This was a symbolic picture of God’s lowering and casting down Satan. It was not painful for the animal at all, in fact whatever the changes it endured, they were very beneficial. The snake is one of the most successful creatures in history, able to survive and thrive virtually anywhere on earth. Perhaps there’s a symbolic message there as well. Satan has been roaming the world since, having much success, unfortunately. But his fate is certain.

Gen. 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

This is the first glimpse of the gospel. Christ defeated Satan at the cross. He will return one day and bind him for a thousand years.

Rev. 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

And then a short while later will do away with him permanently.

Rev. 22:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Just some thoughts. Hope they help.

 

[Edgar40]

Meaning of the Flaming sword

Could the flaming sword mean judgement by Gods word?

Meaning of fire

James 3:6
"......the tongue is a fire...."

Luke 12:49
"I came to cast a fire on the earth;......."

II Thessalonians 2:8
the Lord will slay him with the breath of his mouth...."

Isaiah 11:4
"...he shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked."

Meaning of the sword; could it be truth? Words of truth?

Revelations 19:15
"From his mouth issues a sharp sword......."

"Rod of his mouth", "breath of his mouth", "and mouth issues a sharp sword", are all figurative expressions for the word which comes from the mouth of the Lord.

So the Flaming sword barring the way for Adam, another symbolic expression?

Was the flaming sword an actual literal sword on fire, or symbolic for God's truth?

God barred Adam from reaching the Tree of Life, with His words of truth?

Not possible??

Or is an actual literal sword coming out of the mouth of Jesus, more believeable?

Edgar40

 

[jeremiah247]

While it was satan we are never told that it was a snake. We are simply told that it was a serpent that was crafty and wise. Most scholars believe that it was some type of creature that walked upright due to the sentence it received.

 

[Calminian]

While it was satan we are never told that it was a snake. We are simply told that it was a serpent that was crafty and wise. Most scholars believe that it was some type of creature that walked upright due to the sentence it received.

It's the same word used for snakes in all of the Old Testament. Here's a list of verses where the hebrew word is used. It's the same word for the animal that Moses's staff turned into. The same word for the bronze image that the people looked to to be saved from the snake bites.

Gen. 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
Gen. 3:4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.
Gen. 3:13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
Gen. 30:27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”
Gen. 44:5 Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.’”
Gen. 44:15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?”
Gen. 49:17 Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
Ex. 4:3 The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
Ex. 7:15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the water. Wait on the bank of the Nile to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake.
Lev. 19:26 “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. “‘Do not practice divination or sorcery.
Num. 21:6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
Num. 21:9 So 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, he lived.
Num. 23:23 There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
Num. 24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert.
Deut. 8:15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.
Deut. 18:10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
1Sam. 11:1 Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
1Sam. 12:12 “But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’ — even though the LORD your God was your king.
2Sam. 10:2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites,
2Sam. 17:25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether, an Israelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
2Sam. 17:27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
1Kings 20:33 The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. “Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!” they said. “Go and get him,” the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
2Kings 17:17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
2Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
2Kings 21:6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
Is. 14:29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken; from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.
Is. 27:1 In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
Is. 65:25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.
Jer. 8:17 “See, I will send venomous snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD.
Jer. 46:22 Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent as the enemy advances in force; they will come against her with axes, like men who cut down trees.
Amos 5:19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.
Amos 9:3 Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.
Mic. 7:17 They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to the LORD our God and will be afraid of you.
Psa. 58:4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
Psa. 140:3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Selah
Job 26:13 By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent.
Prov. 23:32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
Prov. 30:19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
Eccl. 10:8 Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Eccl. 10:11 If a snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Dan. 2:32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
Dan. 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Dan. 2:39 “After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.
Dan. 2:45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands — a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.”
Dan. 4:15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. “‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.
Dan. 4:23 “You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’
Dan. 5:4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Dan. 5:23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
Dan. 7:19 “Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws — the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.
1Chr. 4:12 Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.
1Chr. 19:1 In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him,
2Chr. 33:6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

 

[Zeena]

Words of truth?

Word of truth indeed!

Matthew 12:37
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The intent of the heart in speaking will also be revealed, and every man, without pretense, stripped naked!

Psalm 29:9
The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

Great post!

 

[Edgar40]

Zeena,

Word of truth indeed!

I think you may have picked me up wrong.

I was not saying that 'my' words were words of truth.

I was exploring the idea that maybe the 'flaming sword' which blocked the way could be symbolic for God's words of truth. And was showing the scripture to show how I came to that thought.

Edgar40