Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

Jack:

Sarap #RP alone is used to denote the "asp", a 
number of poisonous snakes inhabiting the Middle 
East and Europe.

#RP M(WPP then literally would be a flying asp, in 
other words referring to a flying lizard that may 
very well have been venomous.

Reports and literature from around the world tell 
of sightings of such animals, even up until the 
last few centuries, even in Europe. While some 
reports indicate great size to these creatures, 
others indicate that these were on the order of 
large birds. They were reported to be great 
connoisseurs of farmers' poultry and small 
livestock.

That these were called sarap could either signal 
venom in their bite, or refer to their bright 
coloring found in many of the reports.

Karl W. Randolph.

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: tladatsi AT charter.net
> 
> 
> Hello,
> 
> 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).
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> --
> Jack Tladatsi

-- 
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