Does the Bible teach that snakes and donkeys can talk? Many skeptics of Christianity seem to think so, including noted atheist and YouTube personality, Aron Ra. But is this accusation true? Do Christians really believe that animals can talk? And if so, does this belief prove that both Christianity and the Bible are false?
The first point of contention between skeptics and Christians on this point is found in the account of the Fall recorded in the third chapter of the Book of Genesis.
"The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, 'Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?'
"'Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,' the woman replied. 'It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’
"'You won’t die!' the serpent replied to the woman. 'God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.'
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too."
~ Genesis 3:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
If one is to take this passage at face value, it would appear that a snake spoke to Eve in the garden. However, there is much more to this passage than is immediately apparent. First and foremost is the fact that this particular serpent (nachash (נָחָשׁ) in Hebrew) was "the shrewdest of all the wild animals" God had created. This indicates that this creature was unique, and quite unlike anything else in the garden. In fact, it is questionable as to whether or not this "serpent" was even part of God's physical creation at all.
~ Genesis 3:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
If one is to take this passage at face value, it would appear that a snake spoke to Eve in the garden. However, there is much more to this passage than is immediately apparent. First and foremost is the fact that this particular serpent (nachash (נָחָשׁ) in Hebrew) was "the shrewdest of all the wild animals" God had created. This indicates that this creature was unique, and quite unlike anything else in the garden. In fact, it is questionable as to whether or not this "serpent" was even part of God's physical creation at all.
In the Book of Isaiah the Prophet we find another word used for serpent, saraph (שָׂרָף), which means "fiery serpent" or "burning one" and is used elsewhere in the Hebrew scriptures to refer to poisonous snakes. (ie. Numbers 21:6 and Deuteronomy 8:15) However, in the Book of Isaiah, we find the word saraph (Usually rendered as Seraph or Seraphim in English) used to describe spiritual beings who surround the throne of God. (Isaiah 6:1-6)
The connection between spiritual beings in Heaven and the serpent found in Genesis is further revealed in passages like Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:2 which identify this ancient tempter of mankind to be none-other than Satan himself.
So then, was the serpent in the Garden of Eden really a snake? Or was it a fallen angel? This is a point of some debate between Christians. There are those who believe that the serpent was in fact Satan himself, while others contend that Satan merely spoke through a serpent, and was not physically present as a snake. However, the one thing that is certain is that snakes do not speak without some sort of supernatural or demonic intervention.
The next point, that Christians believe in talking donkeys, comes from the account of Balaam found in the Book of Numbers.
"So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.
The connection between spiritual beings in Heaven and the serpent found in Genesis is further revealed in passages like Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:2 which identify this ancient tempter of mankind to be none-other than Satan himself.
So then, was the serpent in the Garden of Eden really a snake? Or was it a fallen angel? This is a point of some debate between Christians. There are those who believe that the serpent was in fact Satan himself, while others contend that Satan merely spoke through a serpent, and was not physically present as a snake. However, the one thing that is certain is that snakes do not speak without some sort of supernatural or demonic intervention.
The next point, that Christians believe in talking donkeys, comes from the account of Balaam found in the Book of Numbers.
"So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.
"Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. 'What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?' it asked Balaam.
"'You have made me look like a fool!' Balaam shouted. 'If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!'
"'But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,' the donkey answered. 'Have I ever done anything like this before?'
"'No,' Balaam admitted.
"Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.
"'Why did you beat your donkey those three times?' the angel of the Lord demanded. 'Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.'
"'Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, 'I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.'
"'But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, 'Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.' So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials."
~ Numbers 22:21-35 New Living Translation (NLT)
As with the previous example of the serpent in Genesis, donkeys cannot speak without some sort of supernatural intervention. In this case, God Himself "gave Balaam's donkey the ability to speak." Does this mean that the Bible teaches that all donkeys can speak? Of course not! In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible records that a donkey spoke one time in history, and then only as a result of supernatural intervention on the part of God.
In conclusion, the Bible does not teach that animals can speak, and the majority of Christians do not believe in talking animals. What is recorded in the Scriptures are two isolated events when supernatural forces temporarily overruled the natural order. These miracles, like most Biblical miracles, are exceedingly rare, one time occurrences that in no way challenge the validity or historicity of the Bible, and are not viewed by Christians to be anything less than extraordinary.
In conclusion, the Bible does not teach that animals can speak, and the majority of Christians do not believe in talking animals. What is recorded in the Scriptures are two isolated events when supernatural forces temporarily overruled the natural order. These miracles, like most Biblical miracles, are exceedingly rare, one time occurrences that in no way challenge the validity or historicity of the Bible, and are not viewed by Christians to be anything less than extraordinary.
See Also:
Why does the Bible say that Bats are Birds?
Is the Resurrection of Jesus Scientifically Impossible?
Why does the Bible say that Bats are Birds?
Is the Resurrection of Jesus Scientifically Impossible?
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