Dart-Snake
TextsWhat is the meaning of Dart-Snake in the Bible?
The Hebrew term qippoz, rendered as dart-snake or hedgehog in English translations, occurs in Isaiah 34:13 within a poetic oracle concerning the judgment of Edom. Scholars continue to debate its precise zoological identification, with interpretations ranging from a venomous snake to a hedgehog, a divergence that underscores the text's depiction of the land's transformation into a desolate wasteland inhabited by wild creatures.
TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the ambiguity surrounding the qippoz allows readers to focus on the passage's primary theological message: the complete abandonment of Edom and its return to a chaotic, uninhabited state. This perspective shifts attention from taxonomic precision to the symbolic power of the imagery, highlighting how the presence of wild animals signifies divine judgment and the reversal of creation.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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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.