Editing Serpent symbolism (section)

====Abrahamic Religions====

=====Jewish beliefs=====
[[File:Tissot The Brazen Serpent.jpg|thumb|''The Brazen Serpent'' (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by [[James Tissot]])]]
{{Main|Serpents in the Bible|Fiery flying serpent}}
In the [[Hebrew Bible]] the serpent in the [[Garden of Eden]] lured Eve with the promise of being like God, tempting her that despite God's warning, death would not be the result, that God was withholding knowledge from her.

The staff of [[Moses]] transformed into a snake and then back into a staff ([[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 4:2–4). The [[Book of Numbers]] 21:6–9 provides an origin for an [[Nehushtan|archaic copper serpent, ''Nehushtan'']], by associating it with Moses. This copper snake according to the Biblical text is put on a pole and used for healing. Book of Numbers 21:9 "And Moses made a snake of copper, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a snake had bitten any man, when he beheld the snake of brass, he lived."

When the reformer [[King Hezekiah]] came to the throne of Judah in the late 8th century&nbsp;BCE, "He removed the high places, broke the sacred pillars, smashed the idols, and broke into pieces the copper snake that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. ({{bibleverse|2|Kings|18:4|KJV}})

=====Christian beliefs=====
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In the [[Gospel of John]] 3:14–15, Jesus makes direct comparison between the raising up of the [[Son of Man]] and the act of Moses in raising up the serpent as a sign, using it as a symbol associated with [[salvation]]: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have [[Eternal life (Christianity)|eternal life]]".

Christian Tradition also identifies [[Satan]] as a talking serpent in the Old Testament's [[Garden of Eden]] who had tempted Eve with a fruit from the [[Tree of the knowledge of good and evil]]. Eve, as well as her consort Adam, were then punished by [[YHWH]] for their disobedience to commandments outlined prior to this; had lifespan decreased, for women to suffer in birthing, as well as other torments.

=====Islamic beliefs=====
[[File:Flying Snake "Arabhar" from arabic legend.jpg|thumb]]
The serpent is a recurrent motif in Islamic thought, appearing in both sacred texts representing evil and works of art. The creature is often seen as a symbol of evil and punishment. The serpent is a complex figure in Islamic thought, appearing as both a symbol of evil and a figure of wisdom. Djinn, which are likewise figures of great potential mixed with danger, are also believed to appear in the form of snakes on occasion. <ref>{{Cite web |title=The World of the Jinn - Notes from Muhammad Tim's Lectures |url=https://notes.muhammadtim.com/ruqyah/worldofthejinn |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=notes.muhammadtim.com |archive-date=2023-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202182512/https://notes.muhammadtim.com/ruqyah/worldofthejinn |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The Arabian Flying Snakes, also known as [[Flying snake|Arabhar]], are a part of Arabian folklore and are said to live near the Arabian Sea. These snakes are believed to have the ability to fly, and their name "Arabhar" means "Arab snake."

The Islamic serpent generally follows in the tradition of earlier Abrahamic myths as a symbol for the seductive draw of wisdom.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mundkur |first=Balaji |title=Ayya in Islamic Thought |date=October 1980 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-1913.1980.tb03415.x |journal=The Muslim World |volume=70 |issue=3–4 |pages=213–225 |doi=10.1111/j.1478-1913.1980.tb03415.x |issn=0027-4909}}</ref> This symbolism is reflected in various stories and parables, such as the tale of the snake-catcher and the serpent from [[Rumi]], which uses the serpent as a symbol for the sensual soul within human beings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-03 |title=Two Tales from Rumi: The Snake-Catcher and the Serpent and The Elephant and the Travellers |url=https://simerg.com/parables/two-tales-from-rumi-the-snake-catcher-and-the-serpent-the-elephant-and-the-travellers/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Simerg - Insights from Around the World |language=en}}</ref> Another story from Arabian mythology features the giant serpent [[Falak (Arabian legend)|Falak]], which is said to live below the fish known as Bahamut and is mentioned in the [[One Thousand and One Nights]] as a dangerous monster.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nair |first=Nitten |date=2022-03-28 |title=Discover the Mystical World of Falak Mythology at Mythlok |url=https://mythlok.com/falak/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Mythlok |language=en-US}}</ref>  It is said that Falak only fears God's greater power, which prevents it from consuming all of creation.{{Empty section|date=January 2022}}