A print from the phillip medhurst collection of bible illustrations. A fiery flying serpent is referred to in isaiah 14. Egypt is called the place of the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, 30. When moses was in the wilderness with the tribes of israel, the lord sent fiery flying serpents among them 1 nephi 17. It is a story that can sound pretty scary, especially when fiery flying serpents.
Fiery flying serpent the book of mormon jonathan whitcomb. Some young earth creationists claim it is a real animal that represents the existence of pterosaurs in modern times. The book of mormon and the bible will grow together, 2 ne. However, isaiahs mention of fiery flying serpents in isaiah 14. He instructed moses to fashion a serpent of brass and mount it on a tall pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. The fiery flying serpent is a creature or entity mentioned in the bible.
When nephis brothers mocked his intent to build a ship, nephi recounted the miracles of god among the children of israel. I dont know exactly why or when this happened, but this was smart decision on the part of someone over at mormon stories, since nephis mention of fiery flying serpents is demonstrably not a problem for the book of mormon, and least of all an archaeological problem. The book of mormon never mentions quetzalcoatl or any of ethans details of quetzalcoatls indian traditionssuch as bare feet, pierced ears, fiery flying serpents, green plumage, and more. Out of the serpent s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. Similar to dragons, fiery flying serpents have four scriptural references, including two references in the book of mormon. The problem with this theory of theirs is that most of the latterday saints probably. Notice that the section on fiery flying serpents, which originally appeared before dogs, has been removed. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm.
This would explain why nephi would add flying to the attributes of the fiery serpents. It further shows that the term flying, used in the nephite but not in the biblical account of the fiery serpent, has. If joseph smith had personally authored the book of mormon instead of merely translating it, he. It is identified as echis coloratus sawscale viper. Kent brown, fiery flying serpents, in book of mormon reference companion, ed. The fiery darts of lehis dream in the book of mormon lds. The phrase fiery flying serpent which appears twice in the book of isaiah is rendered in some translations as a darting, venomous serpent.
Moses created a brazen serpent on a pole, which miraculously helped those who looked on it to be healed from the venom. There is the nephite tradition of fiery flying serpents i nephi 17. Answers to these questions are found in the book of mormon. The genesis for the concept of the fiery flying serpent comes from isaiah who uses this metaphor quite effectively. The fiery flying serpent the bible mentions fiery flying serpents as real animals, causing death to many of the people of israel in the desert many centuries ago. Mormon challenges could the book of mormon story have. A different take on the meaning of the fiery darts from lehis dream in the book of mormon. I sometimes encounter the word dragon, in my communications with eyewitnesses of apparent living pterosaurs, but rarely encounter or use the phrase flying snake, unless its in reference to the fiery flying serpent in the bible or in the book of mormon. Book of mormon, 1830, page 102 the joseph smith papers. And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety.
Fiery flying serpents similar to dragons, fiery flying serpents have four scriptural references, including two references in the book of mormon. Book of mormon central why did nephi say serpents could. Over the years biblical scholars have speculated about the nature of the creature described in the authorized version as the fiery flying serpent. Skinner, serpent symbols and salvation in the ancient near east and the book of mormon, journal of book of mormon studies 10, no. Mormon refers to fiery flying serpents, for the use of the word. Whereas the bible says only that they were fiery serpents, nephi records that they were fiery flying serpents 1 nephi 17. The fiery flying serpent of the old testament is also found in the book of mormon. The prophet nephi referred to these snakes as fiery flying serpents 1 ne. This fits with classical authors describing pterosaur populations in.
The book of mormon indicates that it was fiery flying serpents in 1 nephi 17. The lords words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 ne. Mentioned in the old testament as deadly to the israelites who had recently escaped egypt, the fiery flying serpent has been assumed, by some people in modern times, to have been a species of venomous snake that strikes as if it were flying into the air, and fiery has been interpreted as a description of the burning pain from its bite. Having been bit the only way to survive was to look upon a serpent staff. Serpent symbolism book of mormon archaeological forum. In the authorized version of scripture kjv we find isaiah twice mentioning the fiery flying serpent. Three book of mormon prophets used this story in their efforts to persuade their.
Compares them with the cherubim and the flaming sword of the garden of eden as well as the fiery. The book of mormon, as in many other instances, teaches us as much about this bible story as the bible does. Whereas the bible says only that they were fiery serpents, nephi records that they were fiery flying serpents 1. Rejoice not thou, whole palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken. Look what vital detail is included only from the book of mormon. The fiery flying serpent because lds scholars find a similarity in quetzalcoatl with the book of mormon account of the resurrected christs appearance to the nephites, critics claim that since quetzalcoatl is associated with a feathered serpent that this constitutes some sort of snake worship. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
Book of mormon nuggets jeff lindsays site and the shake. The lord covenanted with enos to bring forth the book of mormon to the lamanites, enos 1. Artifacts found in jerusalem dated to the 8th7th century bc depict winged serpents which scholars believe represent the fiery serpents mentioned in the bible. They say that the adjective fiery implies bioluminescence, which is similar to reports of the ropen. Whether these beasts are dragons or other mythical beasts, they seem to share similar qualities with dragons.
Moses brazen serpent as it relates to serpent worship in. The pinnacle event in the book of mormon is a visitation from christ, himself. In the book of mormon, nephi tells the biblical story of the fiery serpents, but adds an interesting detail. The fiery flying serpent is a creature mentioned in the book of isaiah in the hebrew bible or in the old testament of the christian bible. The israelites bitten by fiery serpents book of numbers chapter 21.
It now becomes imperative to explore why the biblical account refers only to fiery serpents, whereas the book of mormon refers to fiery flying serpents, for the use of the word flying is important in understanding what took place in mesoamerica. Look and live the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. And the lord said unto moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole. He sent fiery flying serpents among them book of mormon. Fiery refers to being poisonous and flying probably refers to their striking motion in an attempt to bite. In fact, in first nephi, chapter 17, verse 41, it is more clearly a flying fiery serpent that afflicted the children of israel at the time of moses, more clear than at least one of the relevant passages in the bible, in that flying is included i nephi 17. Moses brazen serpent as it relates to serpent worship in mesoamerica wallace e.
New view on the fiery flying serpent the bible and. He sent fiery flying serpents among them 1 nephi 17. The fiery flying serpent originally published in creation research society quarterly, vol. What ever happened to these fascinating biblical creatures. Fiery probably refers to the burning sensation caused by the venom, and flying likely refers to the snakes speed and agility. A cockatrice is a serpent, hatched from a cocks egg, that can kill with a glance. A better rendition would be flying fiery serpent, that is, a fiery serpent which is flying. It is a story that can sound pretty scary, especially when fiery flying serpents are mentioned. The brass serpent and our modernday unbelief lds daily. In fact, in first nephi, chapter 17, verse 41, it is more clearly.