The Serpent

Genesis 3 introduces us to the Serpent. How did he get there? Did God place him there? Why would he do that!?

Who is the Serpent?

Across most Christian traditions, the Serpent is understood to be connected to Satan. Later scripture makes this connection explicit: Revelations 12.9 calls Satan "that ancient serpent".

To fully understand the character of the Serpent, we must first understand how the original readers would have understood the scripture.

The Etymology of "Serpent"

The term Serpent comes from the Hebrew word Nechash. The root letters for Nechash can be read in three different ways depending on how the word is used (as a noun, adjective, or verb). This allows the author to describe the character's appearance and his nature at the same time:

As a Noun: "Serpent" A slithering, dangerous creature.

As an Adjective: "The Shining One" This refers to something bright or "brazen," like polished bronze. It suggests a "shining" spiritual being. This "Shining" description links the Serpent to the Seraphim.

As a Verb/Participle: "The Whisperer" This refers to someone who whispers secrets or seeks out "hidden" forbidden knowledge (divination).

From each of these understandings, we are better able to paint a picture of who this Serpent character is in the Garden.

Why was he there?

The Serpent wasn't a random animal that wandered into the Garden. He was a "Shining One" from the heavenly court. He was likely stationed in Eden because it was the place where Heaven and Earth overlapped.

The Motive: Some Christian traditions suggest the rebellion of Satan involved envy of humanity’s role in creation. Though humans were formed from dust (Genesis 2.7), they were given dominion (Genesis 1.26). Passages such as Wisdom 2:24 (deuterocanon book) describe the devil acting out of envy, leading some theologians to propose that the exalted destiny of humanity played a role in the rebellion. Scripture does not explicitly state this, but the idea appears in early Christian reflection.

The Goal: By tricking Adam and Eve into choosing their own way (Autonomy), he could get them disqualified and exiled from the Garden.

The Demotion

When God tells the Serpent he will "crawl on his belly and eat dust," it is a symbolic demotion. The "Shining One" of the heights is stripped of his high status and cast down to the lowest state—the "dust."