why did god punish snakes?

Question

if the devil was talking through the snake.
was it the poor snakes fault?
and did animals used to talk. why dont snakes talk anymore?

Answer 1

Symbolism honey, symbolism. He was talking to Satan, not snakes. He would be a spiritual bottom feeder, crawling on his belly in contrast to the other angels.

Answer 2

How about it was all made up? Animals never talked. Also, remember that "God" supposedly said that the snake would forevermore crawl around on its belly (which is easy to get right because that's how they always were) and "eat dust (check source for chapter and verse)?" Well, guess what? Snakes don't eat dust, ever. Something to think about...maybe will make you think twice about accepting the Bible as inerrant when there is a very obvious contradiction here.

EDIT: Also, reread this story in the Bible very carefully. You'll notice that there is not a single mention of "Satan" at all, just "the serpent." The connection with "Satan" is wholly implied, and non-existent in the text. It's all about the 'crafty serpent.'

P.S. Also, I'm going to preemptively answer anyone stupid enough to argue "well, he was only talking about that one snake!" by pointing out that the exact same language is used when referring to the supposed 'original sin' being passed down from Adam and Eve. You can't have it both ways--your choices are "this is a clear error in the Bible, therefore it is not inerrant" and "there is no original sin passed down to us."

Answer 3

Good one. God didn't punish snakes, that whole story is a myth.
The reason why the so-called devil is depicted as a snake in the Bible is because in many of the other cultures of that time snakes and serpents were considered to be symbols of wisdom. So those who wrote the bible (and no it wasn't written by God, sheesh)
had to put down those other "Pagan" religions by denouncing and ridiculing their beliefs.
Many cultures and religions today still consider the snake to be a symbol of wisdom and transformation. Transformation because snakes shed their skin, it is likened to a renewal, a rebirth.

Answer 4

My understanding of the situation is that the devil WAS the snake.

Interestingly, the snake is associated very strongly with the ancient mother goddess - it is at once a symbol of rebirth (sheds the old skin for the new), wisdom and a male sexual/fertility symbol. It was the worship of this ancient mother goddess that was replaced by the worship of Yahweh.

Answer 5

the tale did not originate in its contemporary style. The snake wasn't the devil, yet one among many different gods. you word yet another artifact of this at the same time as the bronze serpent, Nehushtan, is used to remedy snake bites. The casting of the serpent because the villain, and assigning it a punishment likely happend at a time at the same time as a monotheist king desirous to stamp out something refering to different gods, like King Josiah or King Hezekiah (who destroyed the serpent statues in Jerusalem).

Answer 6

Just like he called dogs and pigs unclean animals.

Satan is a Jinn - not an Angel.

Jinns are shapeshifters and they have choice or free will.

Dogs and Snakes are associated with the Devil.


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Answer 7

So saith the Bible???? The snake is a very important reptile which eats mice and rats? and precludes that horrible disease I can't remember???? Plus it helps the farmer from an overpopulation of mice that eat their grains???

Answer 8

You can see talking snakes on TV every day - they are called politicians. And they usually escape punishment for what they are doing.

Answer 9

Before I rip into you and feel compelled to ridicule you in front of the globe, I'm going to give you an easy out. Go and research the following term and then come back; "ha-nachash". See you.

Answer 10

the snake convince Eve to eat from the Fruit Tree that God had told her and Adam not to eat from,Eve listen to the snake,and convince Adam to do the same.but the snake was actually the devil and thats why God punish the serpent and told him for what he hath done he will crawl on his belly for the rest of his life.