Is it possible that Adam and Eve spoke with the serpent before he deceived them in the garden?
Eve didn't seem surprised that the serpent talked to her. Is it possible that they carried on conversations before he deceived them before the fall?
Genesis 3:1 - 5
NKJV - 1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'? 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden.
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Tim Maas
Supporter
I have never studied Hebrew, but one interesting suggestion that I came across (on the website http://discussions.godandscience.org/viewtopic.php?t=33083) was based on the claim that the same Hebrew word translated as "serpent" in the Genesis account (Anglicized as "nachash") can also function as a verb meaning "to practice diviniation" -- referring to the way in which the being with whom Eve was speaking was practicing the deception associated with divination. Even more significantly, the same word can also be used as an adjective meaning "polished" or "shining bronze". And when a definite article (such as "the") is associated with this word, it would mean "the shining one" -- a description frequently used elsewhere in the Bible in association with angels (only, in this case, referring to an evil spiritual being -- Lucifer -- whose original name also meant "light-bearer"). The analysis therefore concludes that it was this brilliant and shining (but supernatural, deceptive, and evil) being (and not a literal serpent) with whom Eve spoke. And it claims that the appearance of such a being would not have alarmed her, because of the manner in which Adam and Eve had been personally communing with God, and had possibly beheld other angelic beings (although not evil beings) in that connection, as well. The analysis also draws on other passages (Ezekiel 28:1-19 (particularly verses 13 and 14) and Isaiah 14:1-22) in support of its overall reasoning.
Frederick Thomas
Supporter
Dear Anonymous, In my opinion, the question does not fit the verse quoted. It speaks of Eve only, which was later confirmed in the New Testament. 1 Ti. 2:14 "And it was not Adam who was deceived; It was the woman who was deceived and became disobedient." She knew what God commanded Adam. (Gen. 3:2-3) The serpent questioned her belief and she answered (Gen 3:1-3). Then the serpent preached to her a deceptive sermon (Gen 3:4-5) and she believed. The serpent must have left her at that stage. When her husband returned from work Gen 2:15 and joined up with her in Gen. 3:6 she shared with him the fruit explaining it would give them eternal life (Gen 3:4). Adam's sin was that he knew that what she was about to eat would bring death, (Gen 2:16-17). but he not only allowed her to eat the forbidden fruit, he himself disregarded God's command, believing her, he also ate with her (Gen 3:6). Therefore he was fully accountable for Eve's sin. Only Eve was deceived. Perfect Adam became a sinner and perfect Jesus remained perfect and so doing reversed Adam's sin.
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