General Remarks on “The Serpent” as the Central Notion of the Torah and the Symbol of Life Itself.
General Remarks on “The Serpent” as the Central Notion of the Torah and the Symbol of Life Itself.
Author(s): Aryeh Mikołaj KrawczykSubject(s): Jewish Thought and Philosophy, History of Judaism
Published by: Żydowski Instytut Historyczny
Keywords: Serpent; Snake; Gikatilla; Nachash; Nachash ha-Kadmoni; Adam and Eve; DNA; Milky Way; Zohar; Letter Nun; Gachon; Bileam; Dagon; Dag; Satan; Primordial Serpent; Samael; Amalek; Jacob
Summary/Abstract: This paper presents a tentative outline for the research field, dedicated to the “serpent” theme within the tradition of Torah’s commentaries, with the special focus on kabbalistic tradition. The analysis of this theme is followed by hypothesis claiming that “serpent” is – among other meanings – a symbol of “life”. This text is a prelude to broader research on such defined notion of “serpent” in the kabbalistic tradition. Point of reference for this research is a small treatise by 13th/14th century, r. Yosef Gikatilla, entitled Sod ha-Nachash u-Mishpato, “The Secret of the Serpent and Judgment upon Him”. Segments of a preliminary version of translation of this treatise are presented therein. A preliminary version of the original text is also included.
Journal: Kwartalnik Historii Żydów
- Issue Year: 263/2017
- Issue No: 03
- Page Range: 473-494
- Page Count: 22
- Language: English, Hebrew
- Content File-PDF
