Introduction:
Snakes, also referred to as serpents in the Bible, hold significant symbolic and literal roles throughout the Scriptures. They are often associated with deception, sin, and judgment, but also with wisdom and healing. The presence of snakes in biblical narratives serves as a powerful metaphor for the struggle between good and evil.

Old Testament References:

1. The Garden of Eden:
The serpent is first introduced 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 tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of man. This event establishes the serpent as a symbol of temptation and sin.

2. Moses and the Bronze Serpent:
In Numbers 21:4-9, the Israelites complain against God and Moses, resulting in 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. Those who look at it are healed. This event foreshadows the redemptive power of faith and obedience.

3. Wisdom and Cunning:
In Proverbs 30:18-19, the way of a serpent on a rock is listed among things too wonderful to understand, highlighting the creature's mysterious and elusive nature. This passage reflects the duality of snakes as both wise and potentially dangerous.

New Testament References:

1. John the Baptist and the Pharisees:
In Matthew 3:7, John the Baptist calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a "brood of vipers," condemning their hypocrisy and warning them of impending judgment. This metaphor underscores the deceitful and dangerous nature of those who oppose God's truth.

2. Jesus and the Disciples:
Jesus instructs His disciples to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Here, the snake symbolizes prudence and discernment, qualities necessary for navigating a hostile world while maintaining purity.

3. Paul and the Viper:
In Acts 28:3-6, the Apostle Paul is bitten by a viper on the island of Malta. When he suffers no harm, the islanders perceive it as a sign of divine favor. This incident demonstrates God's protection over His servants and the impotence of evil against His will.

Symbolism and Themes:

· Deception and Sin:
The serpent's role in the fall of man establishes it as a symbol of deceit and the origin of sin. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, where snakes often represent the cunning and treacherous nature of evil.

· Judgment and Redemption:
The bronze serpent in the wilderness serves as a symbol of judgment and redemption. It illustrates the principle that faith and obedience to God's commands bring healing and salvation.

· Wisdom and Prudence:
While often associated with negative traits, snakes also symbolize wisdom and prudence. Jesus' instruction to His disciples to be "shrewd as snakes" highlights the importance of discernment in the Christian life.

Conclusion:
Snakes in the Bible are complex symbols that embody both the peril of sin and the potential for redemption. They serve as reminders of the ongoing spiritual battle and the need for vigilance, wisdom, and faith in God's redemptive power.

The Cry of "Snakes! Snakes!"
... CHAPTER SIX. THE CRY OF "SNAKES! SNAKES!". After some ... out, "Snakes! snakes!"
as loud as I could. This produced immediate confusion. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter six the cry of.htm

The Death of Saint Patrick.
... kingdom?"and they told him that it was their firm belief that the whole land, from
north to south, would be depopulated before long if the snakes were not ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter fifteen the death of.htm

If any one Wishes to Hear the Arrangements for My Journey from ...
... Thence I made my way to Egypt. I saw the monasteries of Nitria, and perceived
the snakes which lurked among the choirs of the monks. ...
/.../22 if any one wishes.htm

Snake-Worship.
... that the boils had come in consequence of their neglect of serpent-worship, and
that the children would be cured if my parents would again worship snakes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter three snake-worship.htm

That all Things were Created for Some Use, Even those Things which ...
... to the philosophers, and especially to Cicero, who says: "Why should God, when He
made all things on our account, make so large a quantity of snakes and vipers ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv that all things were.htm

The Release of Saint George.
... and the faithful De Fistycuff, lay groaning in their far-off dungeon in Egypt, for
having ventured to assert that crocodiles, and apes, and snakes, were not ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm

The Cocal
... Just after passing this gang we found, lying by the road, two large snakes, just
killed, which I would gladly have preserved had it been possible. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xiii the cocal.htm

The Brazen Serpent.
... All the virus seemed to be extracted from the fiery, burning fangs of the snakes,
and hung up innocuous in that brazen serpent; so all the virulence and venom ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/viii the brazen serpent.htm

On the Animals
... a spider. [Ps.38(39):12 Vulgate]. The snake is the devil or bad men; in
the gospel: snakes are the equals of vipers. The same in ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm

Fences and Serpents
... with your brains as well as your muscles, and do not put your hand into the hollow
in the wall, until you have looked to see whether there are any snakes in it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/fences and serpents.htm

Snakes (25 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Snakes (25 Occurrences). ... Matthew 10:16 See, I send you
out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves. ...
/s/snakes.htm - 13k

Poison-snakes (3 Occurrences)
Poison-snakes. Poison-snake, Poison-snakes. Pokereth-hazzebaim .
Multi-Version Concordance Poison-snakes (3 Occurrences). ...
/p/poison-snakes.htm - 7k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... It may be too much to say that the inhabitants of Syria and Palestine consider all
snakes to be poisonous, but they do not clearly distinguish the non ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Snake (43 Occurrences)
... (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) ...
/s/snake.htm - 19k

Adder (9 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless snakes, as
the milk adder, puffing adder, etc. 5. (n.) Same as Sea Adder. Int. ...
/a/adder.htm - 11k

Wounds (57 Occurrences)
... Revelation 9:19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails:
because their tails are like snakes, and have heads, and with them they give ...
/w/wounds.htm - 22k

Kept (891 Occurrences)
... Hosanna in the highest!" (WEB). Matthew 23:33 You snakes, offspring of snakes,
how will you be kept from the punishment of hell? (BBE). ...
/k/kept.htm - 33k

Wonder-worker (9 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 8:17 See, I will send snakes and poison-snakes among you, against which
the wonder-worker has no power; and they will give you wounds which may not be ...
/w/wonder-worker.htm - 9k

Flight (325 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:7 But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in ...
/f/flight.htm - 38k

Basilisk (3 Occurrences)
... It must be borne in mind that while there are poisonous snakes in Palestine, there
are more which are not poisonous, and most of the latter, as well as some ...
/b/basilisk.htm - 9k

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