Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Flying or Darting in Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Flying or Darting in Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6
  • Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2006 21:52:11 +0100

On Sat 1 Apr 2006 (21:32:06), tladatsi AT charter.net wrote:
> In Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6 the phrase "sharaf mez'wfef" is used. It is
> frequently translated as "flying snake". I guess flying is derived
> from the root 'wf. Flying snakes are not normal to say the least. So
> if the author intended the phrase to refer to an self-propelled
> airborne (winged?) snake, it would certainly be something unusual.
> However there is nothing in the context to suggest anything out of the
> ordinary about these snakes. The NIV translates the phrases as
> darting, I suppose a reference to the tounge of the snake (which flys
> out of the mouth of the snake).

The reference is probably to Moses' rod which became a snake, and consumed
the rods/snakes of the Egyptian magicians (Exodus 4:2-3, 7:10-12).
"He that smote Philistia" was David, the founder of the Davidic line of
which Ahaz was the latest scion, until his death (verse 28). Any rejoicing
at this by Philistia would be premature. The LORD's power resided in the
fallen rod, which would become a darting viper and a flying serpent again
in the hands of "Immanuel", even if Hezekiah and his successors down to
Zedekiah as puppet kings presented no threat.

Moses' rod, like a Field Marshal's baton, represented the power of God
in his hand. This rod had the power to dry up the Red Sea, bring water
out of the rock, etc. The death of Moses, or of David, or of David's
successor Ahaz, would not break the power of God through his appointed
representative.

> Any thoughts?

My thoughts...

Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF ZFC Hf
<ben.crick AT NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
*Acorn RPC700, RO4.03+Kinetic Card, 126MB, 4.3GB HD, x32CDROM
*Castle Iyonix X100, RO5.06, 600MHz XScale processor, 512MB DDR RAM,
114GB HD, CD-RW, etc. *Ethernet networking.







Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page