Topical Bible: Snake

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Topical Encyclopedia

The snake, also referred to as a serpent in many biblical texts, holds significant symbolic and literal roles throughout the Bible. It is often associated with deception, sin, and evil, but also with wisdom and healing in certain contexts.

Genesis and the Fall:
The most prominent appearance of the snake is in the Book of Genesis. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent is described as "more cunning than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made" (Genesis 3:1). It tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of man. This act of deception introduces sin into the world, and as a result, God curses the serpent: "On your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life" (Genesis 3:14). The serpent's role in the fall establishes its association with Satan and evil.

Symbol of Judgment and Healing:
In the Book of Numbers, the snake appears as both a symbol of judgment and healing. When the Israelites speak against God and Moses, the LORD sends venomous snakes among them, causing many to die. In response to Moses' intercession, God instructs him to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Those who look at the bronze serpent are healed (Numbers 21:6-9). This event is later referenced by Jesus in the New Testament as a foreshadowing of His crucifixion (John 3:14-15).

Wisdom and Cunning:
In the New Testament, Jesus advises His disciples to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Here, the snake's cunning is acknowledged as a trait to be emulated in a positive sense, balanced by the innocence of a dove.

Symbol of Satan:
The snake is explicitly identified with Satan in the Book of Revelation. The "great dragon" is described as "that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray" (Revelation 12:9). This identification reinforces the serpent's role as an adversary and deceiver throughout biblical history.

Other References:
Snakes are mentioned in various other contexts in the Bible. In Exodus, Aaron's staff becomes a snake as a sign to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:10-12). In the Psalms and Proverbs, snakes are used metaphorically to describe the wicked and deceitful (Psalm 58:4, Proverbs 23:32).

Cultural and Theological Significance:
The snake's presence in the Bible has influenced Christian theology and symbolism. It represents the duality of creation—capable of both harm and healing. The snake's role in the fall of man and its association with Satan underscore the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil. The imagery of the snake continues to be a powerful symbol in Christian art and literature, reflecting its complex biblical heritage.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Serpent.

2. (v. t.) To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out.

3. (v. t.) To wind round spirally, as a large rope with a smaller, or with cord, the small rope lying in the spaces between the strands of the large one; to worm.

4. (v. i.) To crawl like a snake.

Greek

3789. ophis -- a snake
... a snake. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: ophis Phonetic Spelling:
(of'-is) Short Definition: a serpent Definition: a serpent, snake; used of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3789.htm - 6k

2191. echidna -- a viper
... a viper. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: echidna Phonetic Spelling:
(ekh'-id-nah) Short Definition: a serpent, snake, viper Definition: a serpent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2191.htm - 6k

5587. psithurismos -- a whispering
... Souter). [5587 () is "an onomatopoetic word for the sibilant murmur of a
snake charmer (Ecc 10:11)" ( at 2 Cor 12:20).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5587.htm - 7k

785. aspis -- an asp
... an asp. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aspis Phonetic Spelling:
(as-pece') Short Definition: an asp Definition: an asp (hooded-snake, cobra). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/785.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7091. qippoz -- perhaps arrow snake
... 7090, 7091. qippoz. 7092 . perhaps arrow snake. Transliteration: qippoz
Phonetic Spelling: (kip-poze') Short Definition: snake. ...
/hebrew/7091.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

660. epheh -- (a kind of) viper
... 659, 660. epheh. 661 . (a kind of) viper. Transliteration: epheh Phonetic
Spelling: (ef-eh') Short Definition: snake. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/660.htm - 6k

8207. shephiphon -- horned viper
... 8206, 8207. shephiphon. 8208 . horned viper. Transliteration: shephiphon
Phonetic Spelling: (shef-ee-fone') Short Definition: snake. ...
/hebrew/8207.htm - 6k

Library

A Crushed Snake
... ROMANS A CRUSHED SNAKE. 'The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
shortly.'"Romans 16:20. There are three other Scriptural ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/a crushed snake.htm

Snake-Worship.
... CHAPTER THREE. SNAKE-WORSHIP. ... However, in a few days, my brothers and sisters were
quite well, and the belief of my parents in snake-worship died away. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter three snake-worship.htm

But if that Snake was not a Present Deity...
... Book VII. 47 But if that snake was not a present deity? [5008] But if
that snake was not a present deity, says my opponent, why ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/47 but if that snake.htm

The Question of the Tall Gentleman as to Whether Diamond could ...
... All so jolly and funny.". A little snake crept out of the tree,. Apples and cherries,
roses and honey; "Lie down at my feet, little snake," said he,. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 20 the question of.htm

Diamond Managed with Many Blunders to Read this Rhyme to his ...
... Any of the creatures would have shown him the way if he had asked it"-all but the
snake. He followed the snake, you know, and he took him farther away. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 21 diamond managed with.htm

Temptation
... If you met some venomous snake, with loathsome spots upon his scales, his eyes full
of rage and cunning, his head raised to strike at you, hissing and showing ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon vii temptation.htm

My Dream Message
... dreams. One night a preacher, who was holding a series of meetings, dreamed
of having a terrible fight with a great snake. When ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-five my dream message.htm

In the Bitter Cold of Winter the Trees Stand Bare of Leaves...
... life of the believer and that of the unbeliever show great similarity in their
beginning, but when their end comes, they are as diverse as the snake and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section ii 1 in the.htm

A Threefold Disease and a Twofold Cure.
... Suppose that three men were to describe a snake. ... They all three describe the snake,
but they describe it from different points of view; and so it is here. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a threefold disease and a.htm

Mr. ...
... them. Only they must kill the snake, you know.". "I was sure the snake
had something to do with it," cried Diamond triumphantly. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 22 mr .htm

Thesaurus

Snake (43 Occurrences)
... See Serpent. 2. (vt) To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with
out. ... 4. (vi) To crawl like a snake. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/snake.htm - 19k

Poison-snake (4 Occurrences)
Poison-snake. Poisons, Poison-snake. Poison-snakes . Multi-Version
Concordance Poison-snake (4 Occurrences). Proverbs ...
/p/poison-snake.htm - 7k

Snake's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Snake's (3 Occurrences). Isaiah 14:29 Be not glad,
O Philistia, all of you, because the rod which was on ...
/s/snake's.htm - 7k

Dart-snake (1 Occurrence)
Dart-snake. Dartsnake, Dart-snake. Dash . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DART-SNAKE. dart'-snake (Isaiah 34:15). See ARROWSNAKE. ...
/d/dart-snake.htm - 7k

Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence)
Arrow-snake. Arrowsnake, Arrow-snake. Arsaces . Multi-Version
Concordance Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 34:15 There ...
/a/arrow-snake.htm - 6k

Snakes (25 Occurrences)
... Numbers 21:8 And the Lord said to Moses, Make an image of a snake and put it on
a rod, and anyone who has been wounded by the snakes, looking on it will be ...
/s/snakes.htm - 13k

Darting (4 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 14:29 Be not glad, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod which was on
you is broken: for out of the snake's root will come a poison-snake, and its ...
/d/darting.htm - 7k

Bite (13 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) The wound made by biting; as, the pain of a dog's or snake's bite; the
bite of a mosquito. 14. (n.) A morsel; as much as is taken at once by biting. ...
/b/bite.htm - 12k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... Theol., ii. Serpent, Fiery. (LXX. "deadly, " Vulg. "burning"), Numbers 21:6, probably
the naja haje of Egypt; some swift-springing, deadly snake (Isaiah 14:29). ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Venomous (4 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 14:29 Be not glad, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod which was on
you is broken: for out of the snake's root will come a poison-snake, and its ...
/v/venomous.htm - 8k

Resources

What does the Bible say about snake handling? Should we be handling snakes in church? | GotQuestions.org

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

Why didn't Adam and Eve find it strange that a serpent was talking to them? | GotQuestions.org

Snake: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Snake (43 Occurrences)

Matthew 7:10
Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake?
(WEY BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 11:11
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won't give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
(WEB WEY BBE NAS NIV)

John 3:14
As the snake was lifted up by Moses in the waste land, even so it is necessary for the Son of man to be lifted up:
(BBE NIV)

Acts 28:3
But when Paul had got some sticks together and put them on the fire, a snake came out, because of the heat, and gave him a bite on the hand.
(BBE)

Acts 28:4
When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live."
(See NIV)

Acts 28:5
However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn't harmed.
(See NIV)

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.
(BBE)

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was forced down, the old snake, who is named the Evil One and Satan, by whom all the earth is turned from the right way; he was forced down to the earth, and his angels were forced down with him.
(BBE)

Revelation 12:14
And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, so that she might go in flight into the waste land, to her place, where she is given food for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the snake.
(BBE)

Revelation 12:15
And the snake sent out of his mouth after the woman a river of water, so that she might be taken away by the stream.
(BBE)

Revelation 20:2
And he took the dragon, the old snake, which is the Evil One and Satan, and put chains on him for a thousand years,
(BBE)

Genesis 3:1
Now the snake was wiser than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God truly said that you may not take of the fruit of any tree in the garden?
(BBE)

Genesis 3:4
And the snake said, Death will not certainly come to you:
(BBE)

Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God said to the woman, What have you done? And the woman said, I was tricked by the deceit of the snake and I took it.
(BBE)

Genesis 3:14
And the Lord God said to the snake, Because you have done this you are cursed more than all cattle and every beast of the field; you will go flat on the earth, and dust will be your food all the days of your life:
(BBE)

Genesis 49:17
Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse's heels, So that his rider falleth backward.
(See JPS BBE DBY NAS)

Exodus 4:3
He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it.
(WEB BBE NIV)

Exodus 4:4
Yahweh said to Moses, "Put forth your hand, and take it by the tail." He put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.
(See NIV)

Exodus 7:9
If Pharaoh says to you, Let me see a wonder: then say to Aaron, Take your rod and put it down on the earth before Pharaoh so that it may become a snake.
(BBE NIV)

Exodus 7:10
Then Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and they did as the Lord had said: and Aaron put his rod down on the earth before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a snake.
(BBE NIV)

Exodus 7:12
For every one of them put down his rod on the earth, and they became snakes: but Aaron's rod made a meal of their rods.
(Root in BBE NIV)

Exodus 7:15
Go to Pharaoh in the morning; when he goes out to the water, you will be waiting for him by the edge of the Nile, with the rod which was turned into a snake in your hand;
(BBE NIV)

Numbers 21:8
And the Lord said to Moses, Make an image of a snake and put it on a rod, and anyone who has been wounded by the snakes, looking on it will be made well.
(BBE NIV)

Numbers 21:9
So Moses made a snake of brass and put it on a rod; and anyone who had a snakebite, after looking on the snake of brass, was made well.
(BBE NIV)

Job 20:16
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
(Root in BBE)

Job 26:13
By his wind the heavens become bright: by his hand the quickly moving snake was cut through.
(BBE)

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
(WEB BBE NIV)

Psalms 74:14
The heads of the great snake were crushed by you; you gave them as food to the fishes of the sea.
(BBE)

Psalms 91:13
You will put your foot on the lion and the snake; the young lion and the great snake will be crushed under your feet.
(BBE)

Psalms 140:3
Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)
(BBE)

Proverbs 23:32
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
(WEB BBE NIV)

Proverbs 30:19
The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a girl.
(BBE NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:8
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
(WEB BBE NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:11
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
(WEB BBE NIV)

Isaiah 11:8
And the child at the breast will be playing by the hole of the snake, and the older child will put his hand on the bright eye of the poison-snake.
(BBE)

Isaiah 14:29
Be not glad, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod which was on you is broken: for out of the snake's root will come a poison-snake, and its fruit will be a winged poison-snake.
(BBE NIV)

Isaiah 30:6
The word about the Beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and grief, the land of the she-lion and the voice of the lion, of the snake and the burning winged snake, they take their wealth on the backs of young asses, and their stores on camels, to a people in whom is no profit.
(BBE NIV)

Isaiah 34:15
The arrow snake will make her nest there, and lay, hatch, and gather under her shade. Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS)

Isaiah 59:5
They give birth to snake's eggs, and make spider's threads: whoever takes their eggs for food comes to his death, and the egg which is crushed becomes a poison-snake.
(BBE NAS)

Jeremiah 46:22
She makes a sound like the hiss of a snake when they come on with strength; they go against her with axes, like wood-cutters.
(BBE)

Amos 5:19
As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him.
(WEB BBE NAS NIV)

Amos 9:3
Though they take cover on the top of Carmel, I will go in search of them and get them out; though they keep themselves from my eyes in the bed of the sea, I will give orders to the great snake there and he will give them a bite:
(BBE)

Micah 7:17
They will take dust as their food like a snake, like the things which go flat on the earth; they will come shaking with fear out of their secret places: they will come with fear to the Lord our God, full of fear because of you.
(BBE NIV)

Subtopics

Snake

Snake Handling

Related Terms

Poison-snake (4 Occurrences)

Snake's (3 Occurrences)

Dart-snake (1 Occurrence)

Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence)

Snakes (25 Occurrences)

Darting (4 Occurrences)

Bite (13 Occurrences)

Serpent (40 Occurrences)