Debate: Is there a hidden meaning in Genesis 3:14

A lot happens in the Book of Genesis in the fifty chapters... mankind is created, falls into sin, most of it is destroyed by the Great Flood; Sodom and Gomorrah is incinerated; Jacob and Esau fulfill prophecy, etc. There's one interesting verse near the beginning of the book:

“	The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.	”
—Genesis 3:14

This debate page is to discuss the meaning of the verse.

Oh Lord, I hope this doesn't turn into a debate/discussion on the whacked out, false doctrine of the "Serpent seed". RobS^{Give Peace a chance} 12:10, December 24, 2022 (EST)

Uh, what do you mean? —LT ^{(Exodus 23:2)} Saturday, 12:49, December 24, 2022 (EST)

Alright, I just looked into that very briefly; and of course that fringe theory is not biblically true at all. How can humans even produce offspring with- eh, I don't even want to directly state the vile, repulsive premise of that theory. —LT ^{(Exodus 23:2)} Saturday, 15:12, December 24, 2022 (EST)

Some argue the translation of Gen. 3:1 should be, "the serpent was more beautiful" or something like that. Then there's a tie in with Ezek 28:15, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." IOWs, at one time Lucifer was God's favorite son before their estrangement. RobS^{Give Peace a chance}

While Satan may still be beautiful in his fallen state (or at least have the ability to appear beautiful, per 2 Corinthians 11:14), how would the serpent (merely one manifestation of Satan) have been beautiful? —LT ^{(Exodus 23:2)} Saturday, 17:34, December 24, 2022 (EST)

See the Scofield notes, excerpted:

"The serpent, Satan's tool, is cursed (Gen 3:14), and becomes God's illustration in nature of the effects of sin--from the most beautiful and subtle of creatures to a loathsome reptile! The deepest mystery of the atonement is intimated here. Christ, "made sin for us," in bearing our judgment, is typified by the brazen serpent Num 21:5-9 Jn 3:14 2Cor 5:21. Brass speaks of judgment--in the brazen altar, of God's judgment, and in the laver, of self-judgment." [1] RobS^{Give Peace a chance} 18:11, December 24, 2022 (EST)

Interesting analysis, and I think I might've briefly skimmed through this one before. However, the larger meaning of God's condemnation of the serpent evidently has greater relevance to Satan rather than literal snakes, which merely provide an analogy. The literal serpent's humiliation of being forced to "eat dust," (or also validly translated as "eat earth") which Isaiah 65:25 says will be the case on the New Earth, is corresponded with how Satan got kicked out of Heaven and is forced to spend his mortal days consuming the Earth. It's easy to get entangled into thinking that the verse is about snakes, when the message is clear that it's about God condemning Satan, who the serpent simply represents. —LT ^{(Exodus 23:2)} Sunday, 20:36, December 24, 2022 (EST)

Possible actual meaning of "eat dust"

What does it mean that the serpent is to eat dust for "all the days" of its life? Now, before I elaborate on this possibly groundbreaking analogy, I am morally obligated to note that I am not the sole originator of this theory. One of my friends posed a good question and I simply extended upon it to sort of "complete" his proposed explanation (though he might've come to the same ultimate conclusion as well before I responded with my "completion" of the theory). He deserves credit for helping me come to the realization of this genius idea.

Now, the serpent obviously represents Satan, so there must be some sort of an analogy here. In fact, there's evidently two meanings, one being literal, the other symbolic. The literal one can be corresponded with Isaiah 65:25, which says that serpents on the New Earth will "eat dust." So this meaning pertains to the nature of snakes and snake-like creatures punished to a low "class" among the hierarchy God has planned.

However, in Genesis 3:14, how is the serpent condemned to eat dust for "all the days of [its] life" relevant to Satan? Does the Devil literally eat dust that's on the ground? Well, no. What he really does is deceive people and lure countless masses into sin that takes them to the lake of fire. Let's take a look at why the word "dust" is used in most English translations. The Hebrew word is עָפָר or "aphar," which translates, in English, to "dust," or "earth." Aha, so here it is! The word earth is a valid translated term. So now imagine the verse reading:

“

...and earth you shall consume all the days of your life.

”

Satan consumes earth, aka he consumes the planet in sin for all the days of his life. Now the verse truly makes sense, doesn't it? —LT ^{(Exodus 23:2)} Saturday, 12:49, December 24, 2022 (EST)

Yes, it makes sense Rev. 12:9, Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (ESV). The earth is the abode of the devil, and has been since Lucifer was cast out. Satan is the god of this world. My kingdom is not of this world. As I noted on the other debate page, God's original plan in creating man was to retake the earth from evil.

So there's a twofold effect to being restored to God by salvation in Christ: (1) personal forgiveness; and (2) being enlisted in God's army to retake the earth. Unfortunately, too often there's too much emphasis given to the first aspect, which is just an appeal to selfish motives. RobS^{Give Peace a chance} 17:04, December 24, 2022 (EST)

The deceiver of the whole world... just as Jesus said in John 8:44 (contrary to what antisemitic idiots think, the verse is not a denunciation of Jewish people en masse; for more info, see here), Satan is the originator of lies. And Satan being the "god of this world" certainly corresponds, at least partially, to the argument I present that Genesis 3:14 refers to Satan consuming the world in sin. —LT ^{(Exodus 23:2)} Sunday, 20:46, December 24, 2022 (EST)