Snakes in Heaven?
In Isaiah 6:1-7 we read about strange, six-winged creatures around the throne of God. They fly with two wings, cover their face with two wings, and cover their feet with the remaining two wings. These creatures are called “seraphim.” When you look up the Hebrew word translated “seraphim,” you find out that it is—uh—seraphim. The word is not translated! Do we have any idea what it means?
Actually, we do know what it means. The Hebrew word seraphim is used five times outside of Isaiah 6 in the Old Testament. All five other times, in Numbers 21:6,8, Deuteronomy 8:15, and Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6, it is translated as serpent or fiery serpent. Why does every Bible version I have seen, which is at least fifteen, leave that word untranslated only in Isaiah 6? In fact, why does the NASB have no note telling us that seraphim is literally “serpent” or “fiery serpent”? After all, they take the time to tell us that in Isaiah 6:4 the word “foundations” is literally “door sockets” and that the word “temple” is literally “house.” Is it really of no significance that seraphim is translated “serpent” or “fiery serpent” all five other times it is used in the Old Testament?
Apparently, Bible translators have not wanted us to know about these snakes in heaven for at least 400 years because even the King James Version of 1611 uses “seraphim” in Isaiah 6 and only in Isaiah 6.
It seems obvious that the reason translaters would avoid telling us that the seraphim are really serpents with wings is because they are embarrassed that God has snakes around his throne. However, I don't find this embarrassing at all. What do you call snakes that have wings and feet? I call them dragons, and the idea of having dragons in heaven flying around and worshipping God is exciting to me. What a wonderful picture!
Do you ever wonder what other things that people are hiding from you? There are seven chapters of the book of Jeremiah that you have probably never read. They belong to the “Septuagint” (LXX) version of the Old Testament, and they were included in the Hebrew scroll of Jeremiah found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. It has been widely reported among Christians that the text of Isaiah found in the Dead Sea Scrolls backs up our “Masoretic” text, but I've never met a Christian that knew that the Jeremiah scroll backed up the LXX version. I've also never met a Christian who knew that the report about the Isaiah scroll is false. It was retracted in 1948, just one year after the original report was issued. The Isaiah scroll among the Dead Sea Scrolls backs up neither the LXX nor Masoretic text; instead, it represents a third text type.
These things are not hidden. I found out about the scrolls of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the well-known International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, and I found out that seraphim are snakes in Strong's Concordance. Christianity in the 21st century is known more for its division and politics that it is for its love and ministry. We can change this. Jesus said that we are to “seek first” God's kingdom. With a little seeking and searching, perhaps we will discover more important things than snakes in heaven and seven chapters in Jeremiah. Perhaps we will find the enlightenment needed to restore the love and righteousness that Christianity is supposed to be known for.
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