What was the Serpent in the Garden? The Ancient Serpent?

[Shermana]

Was it one of the beasts of Creation in Genesis 1? Was it specially placed for the Special Garden in Genesis 2? Did it have a mate? Did its mate have legs too? Did she lose her legs when the Serpent lost his? Was he the only walking serpent of his kind? Was he the progenitor of all legless serpent species to come? Was he a special kind of serpent? Was he able to speak on his own or was it like Balaam's donkey? Is this serpent the "Ancient Serpent" of Revelation? One of his minions? If not, does the "Ancient Serpent" have legs?

[De Maria]

Was it one of the beasts of Creation in Genesis 1? Was it specially placed for the Special Garden in Genesis 2? Did it have a mate? Did its mate have legs too? Did she lose her legs when the Serpent lost his? Was he the only walking serpent of his kind? Was he the progenitor of all legless serpent species to come? Was he a special kind of serpent? Was he able to speak on his own or was it like Balaam's donkey? Is this serpent the "Ancient Serpent" of Revelation? One of his minions? If not, does the "Ancient Serpent" have legs?

In my opinion, the story of Genesis 3 is more of a parable than a lesson in the evolution of the snake.

In Scripture, God commands obedience:
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

And turning away from God to obey another is considered adultery:
Jeremiah 3:13-15 (King James Version)

13Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

14Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

15And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

In that respect, the image of the Serpent is more of a phallic symbol. When we sin against God, we are seduced by the Serpent:
Proverbs 12:26
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Therefore, in turning to the Serpent and permitting him to seduce them, Adam and Eve committed adultery against God. Essentially, they rejected God and embraced the Serpent, who in my opinion is the ancient Dragon of Rev 12.

Sincerely,


De Maria

[JehovahsWitness]

Was it one of the beasts of Creation in Genesis 1? Was it specially placed for the Special Garden in Genesis 2? Did it have a mate? Did its mate have legs too? Did she lose her legs when the Serpent lost his? Was he the only walking serpent of his kind? Was he the progenitor of all legless serpent species to come? Was he a special kind of serpent? Was he able to speak on his own or was it like Balaam's donkey? Is this serpent the "Ancient Serpent" of Revelation? One of his minions? If not, does the "Ancient Serpent" have legs?

What was the snake that spoke to Eve? Snakes cannot talk, they have not been created with the intelligence to speak nor have they vocal cords or the ability to speak. The snake in the Genesis accounts was a dumb beast being maniupulated in a similar way to how a VENTRILOQUIST makes a dummy "speak" by projecting his voice so that he listener is unaware of WHO really is speaking. Since spirits are invisible (and can and do manipulate the physical environment) it would be simple for them to make it APPEAR as if an animal was speaking*.

The bible explains that the "original serpent" or the powerful invisible spirit creatur manipulating an animal, was in fact "the one called Devil and Satan". (see Rev. 12:9; 20:2). The greek word in Revelation 12:9 is archaios from the root arch which according to Strongs (#744) ==> original or primeval:--(them of) old (time).


*It was a similar case with the donkey "speaking" to Baalam" which the angel (unseen spirit) maniuplated for dramatic effect, to drive the point being made at the time home.


#QUESTION: Does the bible teach that snakes used to have legs?

No there is no verse that says this. God's words recorded in Genesis to the "serpent" were in fact directed to Satan the devil, the spirit creature that spoke through a literal serpent (much like a ventriloquist "speaks" through a literal doll). In METAPHORIC language or poetic speech, God was communicating Satan's punishment.

• You will crawl on your belly/and you will eat dust/all the days of your life.

Serpents literally travel on their belly or rib cage, and because of the nearness of their head to the ground, their flickering tongue appears to be licking the dust. (Ge 3:14) Figuratively these words apply to Satan (the wicked angel) showing he would thereafter be in a debased or lower position, cursed by God to be eventually destroyed.

* We still use animals today to communicate certain features or emotions, for example the similies "free as a bird" does not imply that birds used to be in prision, but focuses on their ability to fly and uses it as a metaphor for freedom. Snakes still feature in figurative language because of their distinct features, we speak of a "snake in the grass" someone that is crafty and dangerous. or the native indian adage to "speak with forked tongue" to speak of someone being dishonest.



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To learn more please go to other posts related to...

.THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, ANIMALS and ... THE EARTHLY PARSDISE

[LittlePig]

Whether or not the snake had legs is an interesting question, almost as interesting as a snake being in the garden in the first place.

If it did have legs, God apparently redesigned an entire species on the spot. And one wonders if God redesigned the entirety of the natural order after Adam and Eve were expelled. If God's creation reflects something of God, what does it say about him? Nature is filled with violence and horror. Animals live in constant fear of predation. Rape is not an uncommon form of reproduction. Cannibalism, sexual 'deviance,' slavery, deceipt, thievery, and all manner of strange social organization can be found in Nature. Was this original or added?

A snake in the garden. What did it eat? Vegetables? Was it venomous, or did that come later? God invented poison?

Were bacteria, viruses, and parasites also in the garden, in the guts and skin and mouths of Adam and Eve, helping and hurting them through their days?

Strange stuff.

[Nickman]

What was the snake that spoke to Eve? Snakes cannot talk, they have not been created with the intelligence to speak nor have they vocal cords or the ability to speak. The snake in the Genesis accounts was a dumb beast being maniupulated in a similar way to how a VENTRILOQUIST makes a dummy "speak" by projecting his voice so that he listener is unaware of WHO really is speaking. Since spirits are invisible (and can and do manipulate the physical environment) it would be simple for them to make it APPEAR as if an animal was speaking*.

So why did god curse the animal if it was a ventriloquist act? or was this just figurative and god never really cursed the snake? If he did curse the snake, what say you about gods character? Did god punish an innocent animal?

[JehovahsWitness]

What was the snake that spoke to Eve? Snakes cannot talk, they have not been created with the intelligence to speak nor have they vocal cords or the ability to speak. The snake in the Genesis accounts was a dumb beast being maniupulated in a similar way to how a VENTRILOQUIST makes a dummy "speak" by projecting his voice so that he listener is unaware of WHO really is speaking. Since spirits are invisible (and can and do manipulate the physical environment) it would be simple for them to make it APPEAR as if an animal was speaking*.

So why did god curse the animal if it was a ventriloquist act? or was this just figurative and god never really cursed the snake? If he did curse the snake, what say you about gods character? Did god punish an innocent animal?

Please read the second part of my post ABOVE (addressed to Sherman)

[Nickman]

What was the snake that spoke to Eve? Snakes cannot talk, they have not been created with the intelligence to speak nor have they vocal cords or the ability to speak. The snake in the Genesis accounts was a dumb beast being maniupulated in a similar way to how a VENTRILOQUIST makes a dummy "speak" by projecting his voice so that he listener is unaware of WHO really is speaking. Since spirits are invisible (and can and do manipulate the physical environment) it would be simple for them to make it APPEAR as if an animal was speaking*.

So why did god curse the animal if it was a ventriloquist act? or was this just figurative and god never really cursed the snake? If he did curse the snake, what say you about gods character? Did god punish an innocent animal?

Please read the second part of my post ABOVE (addressed to Sherman)

I understand that, so do you take the position that this is figurative and that the snake wasn't there or that it was and it was manipulated by some being? If you believe the latter then why did god punish the serpent? Was the serpent literally there?

Heres why I ask:

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, What is this you have done?

The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this,

Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.

God cursed the animal known as the serpent. Why punish an innocent animal? What does this say about god?
Nick