Topical Bible: Judgments: On the Serpent

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The judgment on the serpent is a significant event in the biblical narrative, marking the beginning of God's redemptive plan following the fall of humanity. This judgment is recorded in the Book of Genesis and is pivotal in understanding the consequences of sin and the promise of salvation.

Biblical Account

The account of the serpent's judgment is found in Genesis 3. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God pronounced judgments on the serpent, the woman, and the man. The serpent, identified as the deceiver, is addressed first:

"So the LORD God said to the serpent: 'Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.'" (Genesis 3:14-15)

Nature of the Judgment

1. Cursed Above All Livestock: The serpent is cursed more than any other creature, indicating a unique and severe judgment. This curse signifies a demotion from whatever form or status the serpent previously held.

2. On Your Belly You Will Go: The mode of locomotion for the serpent is changed, symbolizing humiliation and defeat. This imagery suggests a perpetual state of subjugation and disgrace.

3. Dust You Will Eat: Eating dust is a metaphor for ultimate defeat and degradation. It signifies the serpent's lowly position and the futility of its existence.

4. Enmity Between the Serpent and the Woman: God establishes a perpetual conflict between the serpent and the woman, extending to their respective offspring. This enmity is both literal and symbolic, representing the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil.

5. He Will Crush Your Head, and You Will Strike His Heel: This prophetic statement is often interpreted as the first messianic prophecy, known as the Protoevangelium. It foretells the ultimate victory of the woman's seed over the serpent, symbolizing the coming of Christ who would defeat Satan. The crushing of the head signifies a fatal blow, while the striking of the heel indicates a temporary wound.

Theological Implications

The judgment on the serpent is foundational for understanding the biblical narrative of sin and redemption. It highlights the consequences of disobedience and the introduction of sin into the world. However, it also provides the first glimpse of hope and redemption through the promise of a Savior who would ultimately defeat evil.

The serpent's judgment underscores the sovereignty of God in executing justice and His grace in providing a means of salvation. It sets the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout the Scriptures, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Symbolism and Interpretation

Throughout the Bible, the serpent is often associated with Satan, the adversary of God and His people. This association is reinforced in the New Testament, where Satan is referred to as "that ancient serpent" (Revelation 12:9). The judgment on the serpent thus serves as a symbol of God's ultimate victory over Satan and the forces of evil.

In Christian theology, the judgment on the serpent is seen as a pivotal moment that foreshadows the coming of Christ and the establishment of God's kingdom. It is a reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle and the assurance of victory through faith in Jesus Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 3:14,15
And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Poison and the Antidote
... pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass ... It
is well for us when we interpret for ourselves God's judgments, and need no ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the poison and the antidote.htm

Appendix
... were occasionally offered when they desired to propitiate Typhon (the Serpent),
the Evil ... similarity between the plagues of the one and the judgments of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/appendix.htm

The Life of Adam
... The serpent had envy, he lied, and deceived, for these three he had three curses. ...
And forasmuch as he heard Adam prophesy of two judgments by the fire and water ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of adam.htm

Allegorical Explanation of Genesis, Chap. I. , Concerning the ...
... For Thou correctest man for iniquity, [1209] and "Thy judgments are a great deep."
[1210] But ... The fox remained a fox, the hawk a hawk, and the serpent a serpent ...
/.../chapter xii allegorical explanation of genesis.htm

That the Words Love and Regard (Amor and Dilectio) are in ...
... if it is more appropriate to say, "My soul longed to desire Thy judgments." And,
"The ... fear." [674] And, "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 7 that the words love.htm

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
... were bitten by fiery serpents, something made to resemble a serpent was hung upon ...
The verse teaches that God's judgments are in a state of perpetually present ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiv jesus attends the first 2.htm

Revelation of Esdras.
... and I saw in the first heaven a great army of angels; and they took me to the judgments. ...
[2497] But if Thou hadst not given him Eve, the serpent would not have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/revelation of esdras/revelation of esdras.htm

Matt. x. 16
... to perplex them, that for all their raising the dead, they were to undergo these
intolerable evils, both judgments, and executions ... That of the serpent, He saith ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxiii matt x 16.htm

Of a Private Fast.
... But by keeping a fast the second Adam vanquished the serpent, and restored us ... thy
particular sins; that thou mayest see God's curse and judgments on others for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/i of a private fast.htm

Were Christ and the Apostles Mistaken?
... "These are the commandments and the judgments which the ... leave us any Biblical history,
in Numbers xxi..8, 9. He says: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/iv were christ and the.htm