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Genesis 3:14 - Serpent's curse: eternal humiliation?

Genesis 3:14 - בראשית 3:14

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶל־הַנָּחָשׁ כִּי עָשִׂיתָ זֹּאת אָרוּר אַתָּה מִכָּל־הַבְּהֵמָה וּמִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ תֵלֵךְ וְעָפָר תֹּאכַל כָּל־יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ׃

English Translation

And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Transliteration

Va'yomer Adonai Elohim el ha'nachash ki asita zot arur atah mi'kol ha'behema u'mi'kol chayat ha'sadeh al g'choncha telech v'afar tochal kol y'mei chayecha.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים <small>׀</small> אֶֽל־הַנָּחָשׁ֮ כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּאת֒ אָר֤וּר אַתָּה֙ מִכׇּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ֣ תֵלֵ֔ךְ וְעָפָ֥ר תֹּאכַ֖ל כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃
וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֥ים ׀ אֶֽל־הַנָּחָשׁ֮ כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּאת֒ אָר֤וּר אַתָּה֙ מִכׇּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ֣ תֵלֵ֔ךְ וְעָפָ֥ר תֹּאכַ֖ל כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Curse of the Serpent

The verse describes Hashem's punishment to the serpent for its role in the sin of Adam and Chava (Eve). The curse contains several elements that require explanation according to traditional Jewish sources.

1. "Cursed Above All Cattle and Every Beast of the Field"

Rashi explains that the serpent was originally endowed with intelligence and the ability to walk upright like humans. Its punishment was to be lowered in status beneath all other animals (Rashi on Bereishit 3:14). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 20:5) adds that the serpent was the most cunning of all animals, and now it would be the most despised.

2. "Upon Your Belly You Shall Go"

The Ramban notes that this implies the serpent originally had legs which were taken away as punishment (Ramban on Bereishit 3:14). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 59b) discusses how this physical transformation serves as a constant reminder of the consequences of causing others to sin.

3. "Dust You Shall Eat All the Days of Your Life"

Ibn Ezra explains this both literally and metaphorically: literally, the serpent would crawl in the dust for its sustenance; metaphorically, it represents humiliation (Ibn Ezra on Bereishit 3:14). The Kli Yakar adds that eating dust symbolizes how the serpent's schemes would ultimately come to nothing, just as dust is worthless (Kli Yakar on Bereishit 3:14).

4. The Serpent as Symbol of the Yetzer Hara

Many commentators see the serpent as representing the evil inclination (yetzer hara):

  • The Sforno explains that the serpent's punishment mirrors how the yetzer hara operates - it constantly tries to bring people down to the ground level of physical desires (Sforno on Bereishit 3:14).
  • The Maharal (Gur Aryeh) notes that the serpent's crawling posture represents how evil always looks downward toward earthly matters rather than upward toward spiritual matters.

5. The Duration of the Punishment

The phrase "all the days of your life" is interpreted by the Baal HaTurim as hinting that just as the serpent's punishment is eternal, so too the struggle between man and his evil inclination will continue throughout human history (Baal HaTurim on Bereishit 3:14).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 9b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the punishment of the serpent and its implications for human behavior and divine justice.
📖 Sanhedrin 29a
The verse is cited in a discussion about the nature of curses and their effects, particularly in the context of the serpent's punishment.
📖 Avodah Zarah 22b
The verse is mentioned in a broader discussion about the consequences of the serpent's actions and its role in the narrative of Adam and Eve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was the serpent cursed to crawl on its belly?
A: According to Rashi and the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 20:5), the serpent originally had legs but was cursed to crawl on its belly as punishment for deceiving Chava (Eve). This was a physical manifestation of its lowered status among creatures.
Q: What does it mean that the serpent would 'eat dust all the days of its life'?
A: The Ramban explains that this is both a literal curse (the serpent must eat lowly things like dust) and a metaphor for its humiliation. The Talmud (Sotah 9b) also connects this to the serpent's ultimate defeat, as it symbolizes that evil will ultimately be subdued.
Q: Why is the serpent punished more than Adam and Chava?
A: The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 20:3) teaches that the serpent was the instigator who added lies to Hashem's command ('You shall not surely die' - Genesis 3:4). Since it deliberately misled humanity, its punishment was more severe.
Q: Does the serpent still have legs today?
A: No, the Torah states this as a permanent change in nature. The Sforno explains that this serves as an eternal reminder of the consequences of deception and going against Hashem's will.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the serpent's punishment?
A: The Kli Yakar teaches that this episode warns us about the dangers of lashon hara (evil speech) and manipulation. Just as the serpent was punished for misleading speech, we must be careful with our words and influence on others.