Introduction:
Serpents, often referred to as snakes, hold significant symbolic and literal roles throughout the Bible. They are frequently associated with deception, sin, and judgment, but also with wisdom and healing. The imagery and symbolism of serpents are woven into the narrative of Scripture, providing insight into their multifaceted representation in biblical theology.

Old Testament References:

1. The Garden of Eden:
The serpent makes its first appearance in Genesis 3, where it is described as "more cunning than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made" (Genesis 3:1). The serpent's deception of Eve leads to the fall of humanity, introducing sin into the world. This event establishes the serpent as a symbol of temptation and evil.

2. The Bronze Serpent:
In Numbers 21:4-9, the Israelites, during their wilderness journey, speak against God and Moses, leading to the LORD sending venomous snakes among them. When the people repent, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. "Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze serpent, he lived" (Numbers 21:9). This event prefigures Christ's crucifixion, as Jesus Himself references it in John 3:14-15.

3. Wisdom and Cunning:
Proverbs 30:18-19 mentions the way of a serpent on a rock as one of the things too wonderful to understand, highlighting the serpent's association with mystery and wisdom. Additionally, the serpent's cunning is acknowledged in Genesis 3 and later in Matthew 10:16, where Jesus advises His disciples to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

New Testament References:

1. Jesus and the Serpent:
In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the serpent in His conversation with Nicodemus, drawing a parallel between the lifting up of the bronze serpent and His own crucifixion: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up" (John 3:14). This comparison underscores the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice.

2. Symbol of Evil:
The serpent continues to symbolize evil and opposition to God in the New Testament. In Revelation 12:9, the serpent is identified with Satan: "The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray" . This passage reinforces the serpent's role as an adversary to God's people.

3. Paul's Encounter:
In Acts 28:3-6, the Apostle Paul is bitten by a viper on the island of Malta. The locals expect him to die, but when he suffers no harm, they conclude he is a god. This incident demonstrates God's protection over His servants and the impotence of serpents against His will.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

· Deception and Sin:
The serpent's role in the fall of man cements its association with deceit and sin. This symbolism is carried throughout Scripture, where serpents often represent forces opposed to God.

· Judgment and Redemption:
The bronze serpent in the wilderness serves as a powerful symbol of judgment and redemption. It illustrates the principle that looking upon God's provision leads to salvation, a theme fulfilled in Christ.

· Wisdom and Cunning:
While often negative, the serpent's cunning is also seen as a form of wisdom. Jesus' instruction to be "shrewd as snakes" suggests a positive application of this trait when combined with innocence.

Conclusion:
The biblical portrayal of serpents is complex, encompassing themes of sin, judgment, redemption, and wisdom. Their presence in Scripture serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle and the ultimate victory found in Christ.Serpents

These reptiles, unclean among the Hebrews, Le 11:10,41, are widely diffused through the world, but are most numerous and venomous in tropical climates. About one-sixth part of all that are known to be poisonous. These are distinguished by having two hollow poisonfangs in the upper jaw, and are usually of slower motion than most snakes. Venomous serpents were abundant in Egypt and Arabia, and seven different kinds are mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures, some of which are identified with existing species. See ADDER, ASP, COCKATRICE, and VIPER.

The serpents mentioned in Numbers 21:1-35 Isaiah 14:29 30:6, and by whom multitudes of the Israelites were destroyed in the desert north of the Gulf of Akabah, were probably called "fiery" and "flying" with reference to the agonizing heat caused by their poison, and the rapidity of their darting motion. Herodotus indeed speaks of winged serpents as appearing every spring on the Arabian border of Egypt; but he did not see them, nor are there any to be met with in modern times. The serpent of brass, made and erected on a pole by Moses, had no healing virtue in itself, but was a test of the penitence and faith of the people. The author of Ecclesiasticus says of the Israelites, "They were troubled for a small season that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. For he that turned towards it was not saved by the thing that he saw, but by thee, that art the Savior of all." Our Savior himself shows that the brazen serpent was a type of Him, John 3:14,15. The believing view of Christ is salvation to the soul infected by the fatal poison of sin. Respecting the brazen serpent, see NEHUSHTAN. Hezekiah destroyed a true and most sacred relic; Rome, on the contrary, fabricates false relics and adores them. See CHARMERS.

Interpreters have largely speculated concerning the nature of the serpent that tempted Eve. Some have thought that serpents originally had feet and speech; but there is no probability that this creature was ever otherwise than it now is. Its subtle, crafty malignity is often alluded to the Scriptures, Genesis 3:1 Matthew 10:16 22:33. Besides, it cannot be doubted but that by the serpent we are to understand the devil, who employed the serpent as a vehicle to seduce the first woman, Genesis 3:13 2 1 Corinthians 11:3 Revelation 12:9.

3789. ophis -- a snake
... or Satan. Word Origin a prim. word Definition a snake NASB Word Usage serpent
(6), serpents (6), snake (2). serpent. Probably from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3789.htm - 6k

2447. ios -- rust, poison
... poison, rust. Perhaps from eimi (to go) or hiemi (to send); rust (as if emitted
by metals); also venom (as emitted by serpents) -- poison, rust. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2447.htm - 6k

1404. drakon -- a dragon (a mythical monster)
... 1404 (from , "to see," the root of the English term, "dragon") -- properly "," used
of mythical dragons ( serpents) seeing their prey from far away ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1404.htm - 7k

8314a. saraph -- fiery serpent
... 8314, 8314a. saraph. 8314b . fiery serpent. Transliteration: saraph Short
Definition: serpents. Word Origin from saraph Definition ...
/hebrew/8314a.htm - 5k

8577. tannin -- serpent, dragon, sea monster
... the same as tan Definition serpent, dragon, sea monster NASB Word Usage dragon
(2), monster (3), sea monster (1), sea monsters (3), serpent (3), serpents (2). ...
/hebrew/8577.htm - 6k

5175. nachash -- a serpent
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a serpent NASB Word Usage serpent
(24), serpent's (2), serpents (2), snake (1). serpent. ...
/hebrew/5175.htm - 6k

8206. Shuppim -- two Israelites
... Shuppim. Plural of an unused noun from the same as shphiyphon and meaning the same;
serpents; Shuppim, an Israelite -- Shuppim. see HEBREW shphiyphon. ...
/hebrew/8206.htm - 6k

7219. rosh -- (bitter and poisonous herb) venom
... roshe}; apparently the same as ro'sh; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from
its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents) -- gall, hemlock ...
/hebrew/7219.htm - 6k

Fences and Serpents
... ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER FENCES AND SERPENTS. '... Whoso breaketh
an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.'"Ecclesiastes 10:8. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/fences and serpents.htm

I am Sending You as Lambs among Wolves: be Ye Now Wise as Serpents ...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section XIII. I am sending you as lambs
among wolves: be ye now wise as serpents? [1] [951] I am ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xiii i am sending.htm

Monitions of Christ to the Apostles in Regard to Prudence in their ...
... Section 182. Monitions of Christ to the Apostles in regard to Prudence in their
Ministry."(1.) The Wisdom of Serpents and Harmlessness of Doves. ...
/.../section 182 monitions of christ.htm

The Poison and the Antidote
... for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light
bread.6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the poison and the antidote.htm

The Death of Saint Patrick.
... Travelling onwards, he at length reached a part of Africa, often much infested
by serpents. He was there told of a rare and wonderful ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter fifteen the death of.htm

Psalm XLII.
... It destroys serpents, [1229] and after the killing of serpents, it is inflamed with
thirst yet more violent; having destroyed serpents, it runs to "the water ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlii.htm

Whether it is Unlawful to Wear Divine Words at the Neck?
... Lord's name, according to Mk.16:17,18, "In My name they shall cast out devils, they
shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents." Therefore it ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is unlawful to 3.htm

The Manich??an Fictions About Things Good and Evil are not ...
... one full of darkness, another of waters, another of winds, another of fire, another
of smoke; to the animals born in each of these elements,"serpents in the ...
/.../chapter 9 name manichaean fictions.htm

In Order to Forearm the Orthodox against the Stratagems of the ...
... Wherefore "be ye wise as serpents," saith the Lord, "and harmless as doves." [2321]
Wisdom is put foremost, in order that harmlessness may be unharmed. 131. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvi in order to.htm

In How Many Ways the Creature is to be Taken by Way of Sign. The ...
... the serpent that came from Moses' rod signified the same thing as Jacob's stone,
yet Jacob's stone signified something better than did the serpents of the ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 10 in how many ways.htm

Serpents (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Serpents (18 Occurrences). ... Therefore be wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/s/serpents.htm - 11k

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)
... subtlety. Although employed in the wider sense of augury or prognostication,
its fundamental meaning is divination by serpents. ...
/e/enchantment.htm - 16k

Poison (17 Occurrences)
... POISON. poi'-z'-n (chemah, ro'-sh; thumos, ios): Residents in Palestine must,
from the first, have been acquainted with venomous serpents. ...
/p/poison.htm - 17k

Injure (16 Occurrences)
... Mark 16:18 they shall take up serpents; and if they should drink any deadly thing
it shall not injure them; they shall lay hands upon the infirm, and they ...
/i/injure.htm - 11k

Scorpions (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Mentioned along with serpents (Deuteronomy 8:15).
Used also figuratively to denote wicked persons (Ezek. ...
/s/scorpions.htm - 10k

Scorpion (6 Occurrences)
... the vowels, `krb and skrp): In Deuteronomy 8:15, we have, "who led thee through
the great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents (nachash saraph ...
/s/scorpion.htm - 13k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... complaints against Moses. As a punishment, the Lord sent serpents among
them, and much people of Israel died. Moses interceded on ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Venomous (4 Occurrences)
... be venomous. 2. (a.) Having a poison gland or glands for the secretion
of venom, as certain serpents and insects. 3. (a.) Noxious ...
/v/venomous.htm - 8k

Vipers (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 23:33 You serpents, you offspring
of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna? ...
/v/vipers.htm - 9k

Gall (17 Occurrences)
... the seat of life (25). (2.) Hebrews rosh. In Deuteronomy 32:33 and Job
20:16 it denotes the poison of serpents. In Hosea 10:4 the ...
/g/gall.htm - 17k

What does it mean to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16)? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about snakes? Are snakes evil? | GotQuestions.org

Why did John the Baptist refer to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers? | GotQuestions.org

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