The term "basilisk" is often associated with a legendary serpent or dragon-like creature, reputed in various mythologies to have the power to cause death with a single glance. In the context of the Bible, the creature is sometimes referenced in translations and interpretations of certain Hebrew words, particularly in the Old Testament. The Berean Standard Bible does not specifically use the term "basilisk," but the concept is often linked to the Hebrew word "tsepha," which is translated as "viper" or "serpent" in many English versions.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 14:29 : "Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken, for a viper will spring from the root of a snake, and its fruit will be a flying serpent." In this passage, the "flying serpent" is sometimes interpreted as a reference to a basilisk-like creature, emphasizing the danger and destructive power that will arise from the Philistines' enemies.

2. Isaiah 30:6 : "An oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and roaring lions, of vipers and flying serpents, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people who cannot profit them." Here, the "flying serpents" are again mentioned, suggesting a perilous and inhospitable environment, possibly alluding to creatures of great threat and fear.

3. Jeremiah 8:17 : "For behold, I will send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you, declares the LORD." While the term "basilisk" is not used, the imagery of deadly serpents that cannot be charmed aligns with the legendary characteristics attributed to basilisks.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, serpents and similar creatures often symbolize evil, danger, and divine judgment. The basilisk, with its mythical attributes of lethal power, serves as a potent symbol of the destructive consequences of sin and rebellion against God. The references to serpents and vipers in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Jeremiah underscore the themes of impending judgment and the futility of relying on human strength or alliances.

The imagery of serpents, including the basilisk-like creatures, also serves to remind the faithful of the spiritual warfare that exists between the forces of good and evil. The Bible frequently uses such imagery to illustrate the need for vigilance, faith, and reliance on God's protection and deliverance.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The concept of the basilisk has its roots in ancient mythology and folklore, where it was often depicted as a creature with the power to kill with its gaze or breath. In the medieval period, the basilisk became a popular symbol in bestiaries and was often used to represent the ultimate embodiment of evil and danger.

In the context of biblical interpretation, the use of such imagery would have resonated with ancient audiences familiar with these myths, serving to amplify the warnings and messages conveyed by the prophets. The basilisk, as a symbol, would have been understood as a representation of the ultimate threat posed by sin and the necessity of seeking refuge in God's promises and protection.

On the Perfection of Patience.
... For it is the plague of which it is figuratively said by the prophet: "Behold I
will send among you serpents, basilisks, against which there is no charm: and ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvi on the perfection.htm

Introduction. Origin of the Treatise.
... Which is quite in accordance with nature; for vipers and asps and basilisks
themselves generally do affect arid and waterless places. ...
/.../tertullian/on baptism/chapter i introduction origin of the.htm

Renewed Cautions.
... glory is in their shame." [1240] Beware of those "dumb dogs," those trailing serpents,
those scaly [1241] dragons, those asps, and basilisks, and scorpions. ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the antiochians/chapter vi renewed cautions.htm

The Hurt of the Daughter of My People
... THE LORD. For, behold, I will send serpents, basilisks, among you, which will not
be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. THE PROPHET. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/the hurt of the daughter.htm

He Shows by Proofs Drawn from Nature Itself, that the Law which ...
... But still we will add something else. There is no doubt that basilisks are produced
from the eggs of the birds which in Egypt they call the Ibis. ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter v he shows by.htm

Letter Lxxxvi. To Theophilus.
... letters, yet, as they are now hastening in the ardour of faith from end to end of
Palestine and scattering and driving into their holes the basilisks of heresy ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxxvi to theophilus.htm

Discourse of the Same Elder on the Untrustworthy Sort of ...
... of beasts and serpents and birds, which are cut off and separated from all others
by their intolerable ferocity or deadly poison, as basilisks, unicorns and ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter ii discourse of the.htm

Of the Different Desires and Wishes which Exist in the Powers of ...
... different kinds of them, as they are termed by the prophets onocentaurs, satyrs,
sirens, witches, howlers, ostriches, urchins; and asps and basilisks in the ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxxii of the different.htm

But as in the Words which I Quoted from Celsus...
... And he who saw that some divinities were the creators of dragons, and of asps, and
of basilisks, and others of each plant and herb according to its species ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter liv but as in.htm

Book vii. This is the Seventh Book of Our Treatise against the ...
... who knows by experience holy brigands lurk in the forests, an explorer of African
deserts aware of the danger from scorpions and asps and basilisks [846] . ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book vii this is the.htm

Basilisks (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Basilisks (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 59:5 They hatch
adders eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth ...
/b/basilisks.htm - 6k

Basilisk (3 Occurrences)

/b/basilisk.htm - 9k

Vipers (10 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:5 They hatch basilisks' eggs, and weave the spider's web; he that eateth
of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. ...
/v/vipers.htm - 9k

Religion (23 Occurrences)
... The Armenian mythology told of huge dragons which sometimes appeared as men, sometimes
as worms, or basilisks, elves, sea-bulls, dragon-lions, etc. ...
/r/religion.htm - 101k

Basilisk's (1 Occurrence)

/b/basilisk's.htm - 6k

Aryan
... The Armenian mythology told of huge dragons which sometimes appeared as men, sometimes
as worms, or basilisks, elves, sea-bulls, dragon-lions, etc. ...
/a/aryan.htm - 9k

Spin (4 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 59:5 They hatch basilisks' eggs, and weave the spider's web; he that eateth
of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. ...
/s/spin.htm - 9k

Armenian
... The Armenian mythology told of huge dragons which sometimes appeared as men, sometimes
as worms, or basilisks, elves, sea-bulls, dragon-lions, etc. ...
/a/armenian.htm - 18k

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