That Serpent from the Bible?

Question

Look, i dont read the bible, just throwin that out there. If god punished the serpent and caused it to crawl on his stoumach for eternity, then what did it look like before? People always say ,"like a lizard" but then why are there still lizards!!! I don't believe this stuff but someone who does please explain!

Answer 1

If you don't believe the 'stuff' in the Bible, do you happen to 'believe' in the theory of evolution? One equally naive question is sometimes asked of proponents of that theory: "If man evolved from monkeys then why are there still monkeys around?"

In either case, the answer is the same.

A change in a species, whether through 'mutation', 'providence', 'divine intervention', or the bite of a radioactive spider, affects the individual's genes. If the change is beneficial, the individual survives to mate and pass along those genes. Depending upon the variation, it can either be absorbed back into the mainstream or be reinforced to create a uniquely different being, which has 'split off' from that mainstream

You don't quote any mainline authority for your assertion that "People always say", by the way. The 'lizard' theory would be one educated guess, but the Bible doesn't tell us specifically, so there's no sense in faulting it for a human assumption!

Here are some other ideas off the top of my head, just brainstorming for fun:

- the serpent could have been winged, as we see in some ancient bestiaries and hear of in certain mythologies (think of Quetzalcoatl from the Aztec pantheon) and lost its wings due to the Lord's curse
- the serpent could have had stubby 'fins', resembling a coelecanth (spelling?) or primitive eel-like fish
- in many old depictions of the Temptation of Eve, we see the serpent wrapped around the branches of the 'apple' tree (it probably wasn't an apple at all - the Bible only tells us that it was a fruit, but that's another whole story...) as a few snakes are still able to do. Perhaps it was arboreal, and quite mobile until God removed that particular snake species' ability to climb and swing about?
- For all we know, the serpent had a symbiotic (beneficial parasitic) relationship with another, larger animal, such as a deer or early cow, in the style of a remora fish or wrasse cleaner... perhaps it traveled quite comfortably coiled about the larger animal's horns in return for grooming, stretching up to pick leaves, and so on?

Farfetched? Perhaps - but then again you are asking for a logical, postmodern explanation for a tale IN WHICH A SNAKE TALKS! :)

Hope this gives you to think,
Hugs,
bardmistress

Answer 2

There are still serpents too!
I have studied the Bible but have never considered following any structured belief system.
I have read it out of interest and comparisions for ancient historical research.
My personal opinion is,that this story is not meant to be taken literally.
The snake was an early metaphor for evil. In this case,the snake stood in for the Devil or Satan.
The snake afterwards used in conjunction with woman to suggest sexual or immoral behavior.
To a degree it still is.
This analogy was obviously drawn up by a man.
For I know of no woman who finds snakes or serpents sexually attractive.
It is rather the male,to who the idea of being the snake appeals.
Having the ability to quietly slither and coil itself around the females limbs and body in a sensual manner is a thought that appeals to many men.
(especially the writer of Genisis it appears)
It is something that he felt no woman would or could refuse.
For woman was in his opinion, weak minded for listening to the Devil and believing him.She obviously should have asked Adam his permission first.
It is infered that she is the more sinful of the spieces. For it was she alone who dared to question Gods word.
To have an independent thought!
Something good old Adam would never have done alone,as he was happy to remain without knowledge of life.
So it was Eve's and all womens lot to bear and give birth to her children with pain and suffering.
While the serpent was forever likened to the Devil and evil.
This was actually his only punishment.As to crawl on his belly was not a new thing for him.
Biblical depictions of him in the tree cohersing Eve,show him as having no legs,just a regular serpent's body.
I always get the feeling Adam got of pretty lightly as well.
While Eve paid a penalty no man would be able to cope with.
But this is just my opinion.

Answer 3

The Serpent is one of many names that God called Satan. He was also called, the bright morning star, the devil, ect. I have a Bible that is called The Companion Bible, it breaks the English down to Aramaic that was the language of the time. There was never a serpent in Genesis it was Satan himself. Also oft time the word tree is used as an allegory for the human body. Accordingly Satan came to Eve in his true personification as the most beautiful of Angels and seduced Eve and she then showed Adam the beautiful Satan and Adam joined in the sexual act also. Thus you have God saying that he hated Cain when he was in the womb. God knew that Cain was Satan's seed. I know this is going to upset a lot of Christian's and I'm sorry about that. But we already know that The Angels saw human women and came down and had sex with them. The end result was giants, they are called the Nephilim. I should also add that I am an agnostic.

Answer 4

Do NOT take the story literally, it is an allegory. Actually the serpent refers to the ancient goddess-worship which was taking place all around the Hebrews when the Book of Gensis was written. Basically, one of the symbols of the Goddess is the snake as it snake represents continual rebirth because it sheds its out skin but still continues to live and grow. The Hewbrews wanted to discredit the goddess worshippers, so made the snake the agent of Lucifer in their creation myth.

Answer 5

I believe it is a figurative statement, just like the tree of knowledge of good and evil. I don't think there was actually a tree there. I think the whole story is meant to be a picture of what actually happened. Kind of an allegory, if you will.

If you read the book of Revelation, it's a story of imagery as well. And there are other examples throughout the Bible that are the same.

Answer 6

This section of Genesis has been translated and edited though out the centuries so horribly, some Christians, such as myself, find it very unreliable (though many others Christians would say our doubt will seal our eternal damnation). This section also has the same plot line as a few other myths of other cultures that have been around longer than the oldest know translation of this one. I think snakes are no more blessed or cursed than we other created beings. They are magnificently designed and needed/deserved no alteration.

Answer 7

The bible is metaphoric. God punished the devil(serpent) and made him dwell under the soil.

Answer 8

Actually there are MANY cases of Serpents or Snake fossils with legs. Its an almost common occurance in some parts of Israel and the Middle East to find these fossils. Here are some links.

SMU PALEONTOLOGISTS PUBLISH FINDINGS OF FOSSIL SNAKE WITH LEGS
http://www.smu.edu/newsinfo/releases/99256.html

Vestigial Limbs on a Snake
http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/articles/snake_vestigial_limb.html

NPR: Snake with Legs (audio file)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1039994

Najash rionegrina, a snake with legs
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/04/najash_rionegrina_a_snake_with.php

Yahoo! Search - Snake Fossils, Legs
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oGkmhyKp9Fsx4ArjdXNyoA?p=snake+fossils%2C+legs&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&x=wrt

Answer 9

lizards crawl on the ground and so do every other remaining reptile on this earth ... think about this : what if the serpent was a lizard that walked up off the ground ...hmmmmm ... dinosaurs did that didnt they ...

Answer 10

The serpent was a demon sent to temp eve. It was not Lucifer, but one of his minions who was punished to crawl on his belly forever.