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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Snakes</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/s/snakes.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/matthew/3-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/snakes.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Snakes</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/s/snakebite.htm" title="Snakebite">◄</a> Snakes <a href="/topical/s/snake's.htm" title="Snake's">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Introduction: Snakes, also referred to as serpents in the Bible, hold significant symbolic and literal roles throughout the Scriptures. They are often associated with deception, sin, and judgment, but also with wisdom and healing. The presence of snakes in biblical narratives serves as a powerful metaphor for the struggle between good and evil. Old Testament References: 1. The Garden of Eden: The serpent is first introduced in <a href="/bsb/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3</a>, where it is described as "more cunning than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made" (<a href="/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3:1</a>). The serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of man. This event establishes the serpent as a symbol of temptation and sin. 2. Moses and the Bronze Serpent: In <a href="/numbers/21-4.htm">Numbers 21:4-9</a>, the Israelites complain against God and Moses, resulting in the LORD sending venomous snakes among them. When the people repent, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Those who look at it are healed. This event foreshadows the redemptive power of faith and obedience. 3. Wisdom and Cunning: In <a href="/proverbs/30-18.htm">Proverbs 30:18-19</a>, the way of a serpent on a rock is listed among things too wonderful to understand, highlighting the creature's mysterious and elusive nature. This passage reflects the duality of snakes as both wise and potentially dangerous. New Testament References: 1. John the Baptist and the Pharisees: In <a href="/matthew/3-7.htm">Matthew 3:7</a>, John the Baptist calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a "brood of vipers," condemning their hypocrisy and warning them of impending judgment. This metaphor underscores the deceitful and dangerous nature of those who oppose God's truth. 2. Jesus and the Disciples: Jesus instructs His disciples to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (<a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a>). Here, the snake symbolizes prudence and discernment, qualities necessary for navigating a hostile world while maintaining purity. 3. Paul and the Viper: In <a href="/acts/28-3.htm">Acts 28:3-6</a>, the Apostle Paul is bitten by a viper on the island of Malta. When he suffers no harm, the islanders perceive it as a sign of divine favor. This incident demonstrates God's protection over His servants and the impotence of evil against His will. Symbolism and Themes: · Deception and Sin: The serpent's role in the fall of man establishes it as a symbol of deceit and the origin of sin. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, where snakes often represent the cunning and treacherous nature of evil. · Judgment and Redemption: The bronze serpent in the wilderness serves as a symbol of judgment and redemption. It illustrates the principle that faith and obedience to God's commands bring healing and salvation. · Wisdom and Prudence: While often associated with negative traits, snakes also symbolize wisdom and prudence. Jesus' instruction to His disciples to be "shrewd as snakes" highlights the importance of discernment in the Christian life. Conclusion: Snakes in the Bible are complex symbols that embody both the peril of sin and the potential for redemption. They serve as reminders of the ongoing spiritual battle and the need for vigilance, wisdom, and faith in God's redemptive power.<a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><a href="/library/hodson/old_daniel/chapter_six_the_cry_of.htm">The Cry of "Snakes! Snakes!"</a> ... CHAPTER SIX. THE CRY OF "SNAKES! SNAKES!". After some ... out, "Snakes! snakes!" as loud as I could. This produced immediate confusion. ... //christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter six the cry of.htm<a href="/library/kingston/the_seven_champions_of_christendom/chapter_fifteen_the_death_of.htm">The Death of Saint Patrick.</a> ... kingdom?"and they told him that it was their firm belief that the whole land, from north to south, would be depopulated before long if the snakes were not ... /.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter fifteen the death of.htm<a href="/library/various/life_and_works_of_rufinus_with_jeromes_apology_against_rufinus_/22_if_any_one_wishes.htm">If any one Wishes to Hear the Arrangements for My Journey from ...</a> ... Thence I made my way to Egypt. I saw the monasteries of Nitria, and perceived the snakes which lurked among the choirs of the monks. ... /.../22 if any one wishes.htm<a href="/library/hodson/old_daniel/chapter_three_snake-worship.htm">Snake-Worship.</a> ... that the boils had come in consequence of their neglect of serpent-worship, and that the children would be cured if my parents would again worship snakes. ... //christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter three snake-worship.htm<a href="/library/lactantius/the_divine_institutes/chap_iv_that_all_things_were.htm">That all Things were Created for Some Use, Even those Things which ...</a> ... to the philosophers, and especially to Cicero, who says: "Why should God, when He made all things on our account, make so large a quantity of snakes and vipers ... /.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv that all things were.htm<a href="/library/kingston/the_seven_champions_of_christendom/chapter_eleven_the_release_of.htm">The Release of Saint George.</a> ... and the faithful De Fistycuff, lay groaning in their far-off dungeon in Egypt, for having ventured to assert that crocodiles, and apes, and snakes, were not ... /.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm<a href="/library/kingsley/at_last/chapter_xiii_the_cocal.htm">The Cocal</a> ... Just after passing this gang we found, lying by the road, two large snakes, just killed, which I would gladly have preserved had it been possible. ... //christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xiii the cocal.htm<a href="/library/dods/the_expositors_bible_the_gospel_of_st_john_vol_i/viii_the_brazen_serpent.htm">The Brazen Serpent.</a> ... All the virus seemed to be extracted from the fiery, burning fangs of the snakes, and hung up innocuous in that brazen serpent; so all the virulence and venom ... /.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/viii the brazen serpent.htm<a href="/library/eucherius/the_formulae_of_st_eucherius_of_lyons/iv_on_the_animals.htm">On the Animals</a> ... a spider. [Ps.38(39):12 Vulgate]. The snake is the devil or bad men; in the gospel: snakes are the equals of vipers. The same in ... /.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm<a href="/library/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_g/fences_and_serpents.htm">Fences and Serpents</a> ... with your brains as well as your muscles, and do not put your hand into the hollow in the wall, until you have looked to see whether there are any snakes in it ... /.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/fences and serpents.htm<a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/s/snakes.htm">Snakes (25 Occurrences)</a> ... Multi-Version Concordance Snakes (25 Occurrences). ... Matthew 10:16 See, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves. ... /s/snakes.htm - 13k<a href="/topical/p/poison-snakes.htm">Poison-snakes (3 Occurrences)</a> Poison-snakes. Poison-snake, Poison-snakes. Pokereth-hazzebaim . Multi-Version Concordance Poison-snakes (3 Occurrences). ... /p/poison-snakes.htm - 7k<a href="/topical/s/serpent.htm">Serpent (40 Occurrences)</a> ... It may be too much to say that the inhabitants of Syria and Palestine consider all snakes to be poisonous, but they do not clearly distinguish the non ... /s/serpent.htm - 46k<a href="/topical/s/snake.htm">Snake (43 Occurrences)</a> ... (BBE NIV). Exodus 7:12 For every one of them put down his rod on the earth, and they became snakes: but Aaron's rod made a meal of their rods. (Root in BBE NIV) ... /s/snake.htm - 19k<a href="/topical/a/adder.htm">Adder (9 Occurrences)</a> ... 4. (n.) In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder, etc. 5. (n.) Same as Sea Adder. Int. ... /a/adder.htm - 11k<a href="/topical/w/wounds.htm">Wounds (57 Occurrences)</a> ... Revelation 9:19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails: because their tails are like snakes, and have heads, and with them they give ... /w/wounds.htm - 22k<a href="/topical/k/kept.htm">Kept (891 Occurrences)</a> ... Hosanna in the highest!" (WEB). Matthew 23:33 You snakes, offspring of snakes, how will you be kept from the punishment of hell? (BBE). ... /k/kept.htm - 33k<a href="/topical/w/wonder-worker.htm">Wonder-worker (9 Occurrences)</a> ... Jeremiah 8:17 See, I will send snakes and poison-snakes among you, against which the wonder-worker has no power; and they will give you wounds which may not be ... /w/wonder-worker.htm - 9k<a href="/topical/f/flight.htm">Flight (325 Occurrences)</a> ... Matthew 3:7 But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in ... /f/flight.htm - 38k<a href="/topical/b/basilisk.htm">Basilisk (3 Occurrences)</a> ... It must be borne in mind that while there are poisonous snakes in Palestine, there are more which are not poisonous, and most of the latter, as well as some ... /b/basilisk.htm - 9k<a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-snakes.html">What does the Bible say about snakes? Are snakes evil? | GotQuestions.org</a> <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/snake-handling.html">What does the Bible say about snake handling? Should we be handling snakes in church? | GotQuestions.org</a> <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-enmity.html">What is the definition of enmity? | GotQuestions.org</a> <a href="https://clyx.com/term/snakes.htm">Snakes: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com</a> <a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div>Snakes (25 Occurrences)<a href="/matthew/3-7.htm">Matthew 3:7</a> But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come? (BBE)<a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a> See, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves. (BBE NIV)<a href="/matthew/12-34.htm">Matthew 12:34</a> You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth. (BBE)<a href="/matthew/23-33.htm">Matthew 23:33</a> You snakes, offspring of snakes, how will you be kept from the punishment of hell? (BBE NIV)<a href="/mark/16-18.htm">Mark 16:18</a> They shall take up venomous snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison it shall do them no harm whatever. They shall lay their hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover." (WEY BBE NIV)<a href="/luke/3-7.htm">Luke 3:7</a> So he said to the people who went out to him for baptism: You offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come? (BBE)<a href="/luke/10-19.htm">Luke 10:19</a> See, I have given you power to put your feet on snakes and evil beasts, and over all the strength of him who is against you: and nothing will do you damage. (BBE NIV)<a href="/romans/3-13.htm">Romans 3:13</a> Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips: (BBE)<a href="/1_corinthians/10-9.htm">1 Corinthians 10:9</a> And let us not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and came to their death by snakes. (BBE NIV)<a href="/revelation/9-19.htm">Revelation 9:19</a> For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails: because their tails are like snakes, and have heads, and with them they give wounds. (BBE NIV)<a href="/exodus/7-12.htm">Exodus 7:12</a> For every one of them put down his rod on the earth, and they became snakes: but Aaron's rod made a meal of their rods. (BBE)<a href="/numbers/21-6.htm">Numbers 21:6</a> Then the Lord sent poison-snakes among the people; and their bites were a cause of death to numbers of the people of Israel. (BBE NIV)<a href="/numbers/21-7.htm">Numbers 21:7</a> Then the people came to Moses and said, We have done wrong in crying out against the Lord and against you: make prayer to the Lord to take away the snakes from us. So Moses made prayer for the people. (BBE NIV)<a href="/numbers/21-8.htm">Numbers 21:8</a> And the Lord said to Moses, Make an image of a snake and put it on a rod, and anyone who has been wounded by the snakes, looking on it will be made well. (BBE)<a href="/deuteronomy/8-15.htm">Deuteronomy 8:15</a> Who was your guide through that great and cruel waste, where there were poison-snakes and scorpions and a dry land without water; who made water come out of the hard rock for you; (BBE NIV)<a href="/deuteronomy/32-33.htm">Deuteronomy 32:33</a> Their wine is the poison of dragons, the cruel poison of snakes. (BBE)<a href="/1_kings/12-11.htm">1 Kings 12:11</a> If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder: my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes. (BBE)<a href="/1_kings/12-14.htm">1 Kings 12:14</a> But giving them the answer put forward by the young men, saying, My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder; my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes. (BBE)<a href="/2_chronicles/10-11.htm">2 Chronicles 10:11</a> If my father put a hard yoke on you, I will make it harder: my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give you blows with snakes. (BBE)<a href="/2_chronicles/10-14.htm">2 Chronicles 10:14</a> But gave them the answer put forward by the young men, saying, My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder; my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes. (BBE)<a href="/job/20-14.htm">Job 20:14</a> His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him. (BBE)<a href="/job/20-16.htm">Job 20:16</a> He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death. (BBE)<a href="/psalms/140-3.htm">Psalms 140:3</a> Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.) (BBE)<a href="/isaiah/30-6.htm">Isaiah 30:6</a> The word about the Beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and grief, the land of the she-lion and the voice of the lion, of the snake and the burning winged snake, they take their wealth on the backs of young asses, and their stores on camels, to a people in whom is no profit. (See NIV)<a href="/jeremiah/8-17.htm">Jeremiah 8:17</a> See, I will send snakes and poison-snakes among you, against which the wonder-worker has no power; and they will give you wounds which may not be made well, says the Lord. (BBE NIV)<a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><a href="/topical/s/snakes.htm">Snakes</a><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><a href="/topical/p/poison-snake.htm">Poison-snake (4 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/s/snakes.htm">Snakes (25 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/v/venomous.htm">Venomous (4 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/g/graze.htm">Graze (11 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/t/threads.htm">Threads (13 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/d/darting.htm">Darting (4 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/b/bite.htm">Bite (13 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/s/snapped.htm">Snapped (4 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/w/winged.htm">Winged (69 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/g/grass.htm">Grass (92 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/s/spring.htm">Spring (122 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/h/harm.htm">Harm (111 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/s/snakebite.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Snakebite"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Snakebite" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/s/snake's.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Snake's"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Snake's" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>