THE SERPENT A. The term “serpent” is Nachash (BDB 638). It has several possible etymologies: 1. Kal Stem - “to hiss” 2. Piel Stem - “to whisper” as in sorcery or divination 3. From 4:22 -“to shine” possibly related to the term “bronze” 4. From Arabic root -“to creep” B. The definite article is present which shows one particular snake or personified entity. C. The literalness of the serpent is bolstered by: 1. It is listed as just one of the beasts of the field that God had created. 2. Its punishment in 3:14 as a literal animal. 3. It is alluded to specifically in the NT, II Cor. 11:3 and I Tim. 2:13-14. D. The serpent was specifically identified with Satan in: 1. The inter-testamental book of “Wisdom,” 2:23-24. “For God created man to be immortal; . . . nevertheless, through envy of the Devil came death into the world.” 2. Irenaeus (about a.d. 130-202) 3. Revelation 12:9; 20:2 4. This identification is absent from the OT itself because it does not discuss Genesis 3 at any length. It is not even mentioned or interpreted in any other OT book. E. Why Satan is not specifically named – The emphasis of the text is on mankind’s responsibility, not on supernatural temptation. In Romans 1-3 where man’s sinfulness is presented and 4-8 where its effects are noted, Satan is never mentioned.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:01:10 +0000
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