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Having grown up in a Christian household, I'd always seen the serpent in Genesis 3 as being something similar to a snake. Later in my teens, I viewed it as possibly a lizard-like creature, based on the verse where the Lord curses it by making it crawl on it's belly. Once again, my understanding has changed. Recently, I've discovered (from reading numerous articles) that the Hebrew word for 'snake' is the same as the word for 'shiny one' - "Nachash". I found this incredibly interesting but I'm not sure what to make of it and whether or not to take the theory seriously. On one hand, most people seem to accept the serpent in Genesis as being a snake, on the other, this theory sounds quite plausible (and more interesting). First of all, the Father of Lies (the Adversary) is sometimes described as a fallen angel of light. Secondly, by my reckoning, it's more plausible for Adam and Eve to be tempted by a being a light (as was Joseph Smith - the Mormon conman) than by a talking snake, since the serpent would have to be possessed by the Adversary and the Bible makes no mention of this (to be fair, there's a lot the Bible doesn't mention). Surely, if no other animal in the Garden talked, Adam and Eve would've questioned their situation the moment the serpent first opened it's mouth! I understand that the Bible tells us precious little about this "nachash". I'm just curious to hear what others think about this revelation.
Is there any truth to the claim, or not?
I especially want to hear from people who have studied the original Hebrew texts and are well-versed in these things (scholarly types).
Anyone? Thanks
Here are several of the resources I've read concerning the topic:
THE RAIN / THE SERPENT OF GENESIS 3.
Job, satan, and the serpent
http://www.thedivinecouncil.com/nachashnotes.pdf
Is there any truth to the claim, or not?
I especially want to hear from people who have studied the original Hebrew texts and are well-versed in these things (scholarly types).
Anyone? Thanks
Here are several of the resources I've read concerning the topic:
THE RAIN / THE SERPENT OF GENESIS 3.
Job, satan, and the serpent
http://www.thedivinecouncil.com/nachashnotes.pdf