On Narnians, Martians and Neanderthals

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

@Patrick

Yea, LOL, and snakes can talk.

Oh @patrick, such a short term memory , already forgetting the Serpent is not a : What is the Serpent?

@swamidass

It says “nacash” which is difficult to translate, most people do not understand as a snake, even among YECs (though you can surely find counter examples). In traditional theology, there are a range of readings about what the “Serpent” is, but most (as far as I know) do not take the view that it is a snake.

I think some options are:

1. A man who is turned into a snake
2. A demon, fallen angel, or Satan cursed to walk the Earth
3. A demon cast, fallen angel, into a snake

I think option #2 is, by far, the most common interpretation, even in literal Genesis circles. The reason “nacash” is not normally thought of as a snake is that he is “walking” and “talking.” The “talking” quality is particularly bizzare, because humans are the only animals that talk, so even literalists are quick to move away form reading “nacash” as “snake.”

Ironically, those I’ve found most intent on saying “nacash = snake” are those who are convinced the whole narrative is figurative (or hogwash). It seems like a way to dismiss the narrative as false with an obvious mistranslation.