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The term Serpent refers to Satan, the Devil, the Tempter. Going in the end from a state grace to that of sin for breaking God's order not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thus bringing a sentence of banishment from the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve, and a death sentence placed on all future generations due to this action. This sin thus is called 'Original Sin', the first sin committed on Earth.

I have added further questions on this specific topic to the discussion page.

AnswerActually, nowhere in Genesis does the writer equate the serpent with Satan. this is NEVER mentioned in scripture, but was an assumption made by some Christians because of the 'cunning' nature of the serpent tempting Eve. There is a great deal of controversy over Genesis from those who take it literally to those who dismiss it entirely, because they miss the point of the story.

To really answer the question of the serpent, we have to realise that Genesis is not a literal historical account, but a Hebrew allegorical poem. It was written as such and was/is believed as such by the Jews. Paul only mentions Adam in passing and then allegorically. Jesus never mentions Genesis at all. So we have to look at that peom for hidden truths underneath the picture language.

First, we have to realise that God is eternal. He knows the past, present and future. Therefore, why place the 'Tree of Knowledge of Good annd Evil' in the garden in the first place? To trip Adam up? To tempt him? For if God knew what would happen, then that is a deliberate act of malice, and not something that reflects a God of Love.

Second, we have to look at the role of the serpent. Some say that at the moment Adam tasted the fruit, sin came into the world. But sin was already there in the shape of the serpent 'the most cunning of all the animals', we are told. So sin was in the world long before Adam.

As an eternal God, then, he would have known that Adam would have taken the fruit, his eyes opened and the realisation of both good and evil. The necessary price of this, however, was death.

So this story speaks not of an error on Adam's part, but part of God's plan for humanity. For placing the tree there in the garden purposely, God could ensure that:

  • Adam knew of evil as well as good.
  • He then had free will to choose either - and not act as an automaton
  • He could then love God freely, or reject him because of this freewill. For real love is given freely and not out of compulsion.

Thus this story relates the way in which God enabled us too freely love him if we wish - with a real love - or to reject him too.

The price of this free will, though, was death. But it was a price worth paying because God, seeing the future, had already put into place the rescue plan in Jesus Christ and our salvation, who would conquer this death once and for all, and still allow us free will.

So, the serpent is not Satan no more was the tree a real tree, but part of God's plan to give us free will and also to ensure our ultimate salvation too.

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Q: Who was the serpent in the Garden of Eden and please justify the answer?
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Related questions

What animal enters the garden of Eden?

The animal was the serpent.


What does a serpent represent?

A serpent represents temptation. This is a representation that comes from the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, with the serpent tempting Eve.


In the Garden of Eden when Jesus sees the devil what is name of the serpent?

It actually was Adam and Eve in the garden, not Jesus. And the serpent is not named, except as a serpent. It is unanimously understood that the serpent was either an embodiment or manifestation of the devil himself.


What animal is mentioned one time in the Holy Bible?

The serpent in the Garden of Eden.


When is the devil first mentioned in the bible?

he is the serpent in the garden of eden Gen 3


How did the serpent move around in the garden of Eden?

The serpents had wings before Eve temptation.


Where was eve when the serpent came?

She was in the Garden of Eden, near the Tree of Knowing Good and Evil.


Was Eve a role model from the Garden of Eden?

People who are disobedient are rarely role models. Eve's only role in the Garden of Eden was as the one who listened to the serpent and yielded to its suggestions.


What was the name of the first species of snakes found?

the garden of eden who was known as the serpent or Satan


Was Cain conceived in the garden of eden?

The evidence of the Genesis account suggests that Cain was conceived [Genesis 4] after the "serpent incident" and Adam and Eve's subsequent banishment from the Garden of Eden [chapter 3].


Advantages of living in a plural society?

None! When the serpent tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, he was proposing a pluralistic society.


Were there others in the garden of Eden?

The Scriptue says there were Adam, then Eve both with God the Word and the serpent which represented Satan.