What is the Serpent?

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

@Patrick

I would venture to say that a talking snake would be in conflict with mainstream science

@gbrooks9

This is the same category as a recent posting that wanted childbirth for the non-Eden females to suddenly become worse because of “The Fall”. I would prefer that the “snake” episode be taken literally only as an option, and not a requirement.

Probably, but that is also not what Genesis says. 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.

@Patrick

I loved that show. It first aired on TV in 1961 when I was 3 years old. It stayed on until I was eight. I can honestly tell you that even at 3 years old, I didn’t think that horses really talked. And nobody told me that horses did talk or that it was some kind of magic. I just “knew”. By the time I was eight years old I was tried to figure out how they did it. Nevertheless it was a great show with great moral message. Mr. Ed was so human. Wilbur treated Mr. Ed not as a horse but as a close friend.

And I can assure that animals do not have langauge that begins to approach that which we see in humans. And Genesis is not describing the origin of all snakes.