The Serpent
Read Genesis 3:1, 2 Corinthians 11:3, and Revelation 12:7–9. Who is
the serpent, and how does he deceive Eve?
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The text begins with “the serpent.” The syntax of the phrase sug-
gests emphasis: the word “serpent” is the first word of the sentence.
Also, “the serpent” has the definite article, indicating that this is a
well-known figure, as if the reader already should know who he is. The
reality of this being is, thus, affirmed from the first word of the chapter.
Of course, the Scriptures identify the serpent as the enemy of God
(Isa. 27:1) and explicitly call him “the Devil and Satan” (Rev. 12:9,
NKJV). Likewise, in the ancient Near East, the serpent personified the
power of evil.
“In order to accomplish his work unperceived, Satan chose to employ
as his medium the serpent—a disguise well adapted for his purpose
of deception. The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beauti-
ful creatures on the earth. It had wings, and while flying through the
air presented an appearance of dazzling brightness, having the color
and brilliancy of burnished gold.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and
Prophets, p. 53.
When talking about the devil, in whatever form he appears, the Bible
is not using mere metaphor. In Scripture Satan is depicted as a literal
being and not just some rhetorical symbol or an abstract principle to
depict evil or humanity’s dark side.
The serpent does not present himself as an enemy of God. On the con-
trary, the serpent refers to God’s words, which he repeats and seems to sup-
port. That is, right from the start, we can see that Satan likes to quote God
and, as shall later be seen, even quotes the Word of God itself (Matt. 4:6).
Note also that the serpent does not argue immediately with the woman,
but he asks a question that implies that he believes in what the Lord has
said to them. After all, he asked: “ ‘Has God indeed said . . . ’?” (Gen.
3:1, NKJV). Thus, even from the start, we can see just how cunning and
deceitful this being was. And, as we will see, it worked too.
If Satan was able to deceive a sinless Eve in Eden, how much
more vulnerable are we? What is our best defense against his
deceptions?