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Scorpion (Aqrab, σκορπίος)

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: S

By: George A. Morrish

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 1min

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

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These words refer to the well-known animal armed with claws like a lobster, and having its sting in its tail. In the East it inhabits desolate places, hides under stones or logs of wood, and comes out at night. It is carnivorous. Various species are known, they belong to the class arachnida, which includes the spider (Deut. 8:15¹⁵Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; (Deuteronomy 8:15); Luke 10:19¹⁹Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19); Luke 11:12¹²Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (Luke 11:12)). In Ezekiel 2:6⁶And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 2:6) the children of Israel are compared to scorpions, among whom Ezekiel had to labor.

In Revelation 9 we read of locusts with stings in their tails, and which torment men as do the scorpions: they are employed as symbols of some form of cruel and pitiless agents. In 1 Kings 12:11,14¹¹And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:11)
¹⁴And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:14) and 2 Chronicles 10:11,14¹¹For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (2 Chronicles 10:11)
¹⁴And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (2 Chronicles 10:14), a scourge with hard knots or metal points is supposed to be alluded to.

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Concise Bible Dictionary: S

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