Cockatrice
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Cockatrice in the Bible?
While the cockatrice appears in medieval bestiaries, it is not a biblical or ancient Near Eastern entity. In the context of an ancient biblical dictionary, this entry is anachronistic as it pertains to medieval European folklore rather than the Greco-Roman or biblical world.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the cockatrice clarifies biblical references to serpents and venomous beasts, revealing how ancient audiences perceived the dangers of the natural world through the lens of folklore and symbolic imagery found in Scripture.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Cockatrice. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Cockatrice in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Cockatrice clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Cockatrice." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/cockatrice/