Topical Bible: The Dragon: Poisonous

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the term "dragon" is often used symbolically to represent chaos, evil, and opposition to God. The imagery of a dragon is frequently associated with serpentine creatures, which are sometimes described as poisonous or venomous. This entry explores the concept of the dragon as a poisonous entity within the biblical narrative, drawing from various scriptural references and interpretations.

Old Testament References

The Hebrew word "tannin" is often translated as "dragon" or "serpent" in the Old Testament. These creatures are depicted as formidable and dangerous, sometimes with connotations of poison. In Deuteronomy 32:33, the venom of serpents is mentioned: "Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras." While this verse does not explicitly mention dragons, it highlights the association of serpentine creatures with poison, which can be extrapolated to the dragon imagery.

In the poetic and prophetic literature, dragons are often symbolic of chaos and opposition to God. Isaiah 27:1 speaks of the Lord's victory over the dragon: "In that day the LORD will punish with His fierce, great, and mighty sword, Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; He will slay the dragon of the sea." Here, the dragon is depicted as a sea monster, a common ancient Near Eastern symbol of chaos, which God will ultimately defeat.

New Testament References

The Book of Revelation provides the most vivid imagery of the dragon in the New Testament. Revelation 12:9 identifies the dragon as Satan: "And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." This passage connects the dragon with the serpent from the Garden of Eden, suggesting a continuity of the poisonous and deceptive nature of evil.

Revelation 20:2 further reinforces this identification: "He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." The dragon's role as a deceiver and adversary to God and His people is central to the apocalyptic narrative, emphasizing its symbolic poison as spiritual corruption and opposition.

Symbolism and Interpretation

In biblical symbolism, the dragon's poison can be understood as representing the destructive power of sin and evil. Just as physical poison can harm or kill the body, the spiritual poison of sin can lead to spiritual death and separation from God. The dragon, as a representation of Satan, embodies this threat, seeking to deceive and destroy.

The imagery of the dragon as a poisonous entity serves as a warning to believers to remain vigilant against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11-12 exhorts Christians to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Conclusion

The concept of the dragon as a poisonous entity in the Bible underscores the pervasive and insidious nature of evil. Through the imagery of the dragon, Scripture communicates the reality of spiritual warfare and the ultimate victory of God over chaos and sin. Believers are called to resist the dragon's poison through faith, vigilance, and reliance on God's power.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 32:33
Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Adventures of Saint George of England.
... physicians in the land stood around with precious salves to dress his wounds, and
administer specifics against the effects of the dragon's poisonous breath and ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter three the adventures of.htm

Of the Fourfold Method of Discrimination.
... if I may say so, relating to the understanding, either lion or dragon, passing through ...
the lairs of noxious beasts and the lurking places of poisonous serpents ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxii of the fourfold.htm

Philippians ii. 8-May
... v.8.): when his poisonous, his deadly, his destructive nature, it calleth him a
snake, and ... his strength as well as his venom, it calleth him a dragon; as when ...
/.../homily vi philippians ii 8-may.htm

A Provision Ground
... famous Cassava, {313a} or Manioc, the old food of the Indians, poisonous till its ...
will have planted at each of its four corners an upright Dragon's-blood {314h ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvi a provision ground.htm

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
... Afflictions to the godly are medicinal. Out of the most poisonous drugs God extracts
our salvation. ... His violence in tempting; and so he is the red dragon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the worst things work for.htm

The Remembrance of Christ
... vile imaginations, and strong evil passions, which, like wells of poisonous water,
send out ... to him who conquered once for all, and broke the dragon's head with ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the remembrance of christ.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... shed upon the world those juices by which plants are made poisonous, as well as ... and
represented beings and forces hostile to the sun, with the dragon Apopi at ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... Glance at that beautiful and most poisonous shrub, which we found wild at St. ... every
circumstance of every clime; as does that equally unique form the dragon-fly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

Second Sunday after Easter
... persecution, poverty and illness, or inwardly"in heart"with their poisonous darts. ...
execrated and condemned by the hellish seat of the Roman dragon with its ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after easter.htm

The Protevangelium.
... it appears in the book of Genesis itself as the fruit of the poisonous tree, the ...
xx.2), Satan is called the great dragon, and the old serpent; the last of ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the protevangelium.htm