Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4600 Living beings  »  4687 snake

A reptile, often associated with cunning and danger, or occasionally with satanic temptation.

Snakes as crawling reptiles

Genesis 3:14 See also Isaiah 65:25; Micah 7:17

Snakes are dangerous

Both to animals and human beings

Genesis 49:17 See also Genesis 3:15; Exodus 4:3; Exodus 7:9-13; Proverbs 23:32; Ecclesiastes 10:8,11; Isaiah 30:6; Acts 28:3-6

Some are poisonous

Isaiah 14:29 See also Deuteronomy 8:15; Deuteronomy 32:33; Job 20:14,16; Revelation 9:19

They were sometimes used to bring God's judgment

1 Corinthians 10:9 See also Numbers 21:4-6; Amos 5:19; Amos 9:3

They may be overcome

Psalm 91:13 See also Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19

One day they will be rendered harmless

Isaiah 11:8

Snakes used symbolically

Of Israel's enemies

See also Isaiah 27:1; Jeremiah 46:22; Jeremiah 51:34

Of cunning and intelligence

Matthew 10:16

Of something harmful

Matthew 7:9-10 pp Luke 11:11

Of the ungodly

Psalm 58:4-5 See also Psalm 140:3; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33; Romans 3:13

Of Satan

Revelation 12:9 See also Genesis 3:1-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 20:2

Of salvation

John 3:14-15 See also Numbers 21:7-9; 2 Kings 18:4

See also

1670  symbols
4122  Satan, tempter
7452  snake, bronze