Texts in Conversation
Revelation introduces scorpions as agents of torment, imagery that parallels Sirach where scorpions and snakes are created to punish the ungodly. Both draw on Jewish traditions where dangerous creatures are used as instruments of divine judgment.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Sirach 39:30
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
28 There are winds that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on their scourges heavily. In the time of reckoning, they pour out their strength, and will appease the wrath of him who made them. 29 Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance— 30 wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction. 31 They will rejoice in his commandment, and will be made ready upon earth when needed. In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command. 32 Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing: 33 All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time. 34 No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time.
Date: 195–180 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Revelation 9:3
New Testament
1 Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss. 2 He opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it like smoke from a giant furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their forehead. 5 The locusts were not given permission to kill them, but only to torture them for five months, and their torture was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person.
Date: 92–96 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... It is likely that the pairing of snakes and scorpions is based upon Deuteronomy 8:15 (the only place in the Old Testament where this pairing occurs; but compare Sirach 39:30), but this is not quite certain because there is evidence that the pairing developed into a fixed expression in Jewish tradition, perhaps coming originally from the use in Deuteronomy, but ultimately quite losing its allusive quality (see texts cited by Miyoshi, Anfang, 103-5, who, emphasizing the discussion of the Deuteronomy text in the early rabbinic tradition, is more confident than I can be of the allusion; note the juxtaposition in Luke 11:11-12). On the danger posed by snakes, compare Numbers 21:6-9; Sirach 21:2; for scorpions, compare 1 Kings 12:11, 14; Sirach 39:30 ... The links between Luke 10:19 and Revelation 9:3-4 have been drawn attention to by Boismard. The texts share the idea of the giving of authority, the mention of scorpions, and a reference to not harming. Perhaps nothing more can be made of the link than to suggest that in both cases we are dealing with imagery influenced by apocalyptic thought in which the final power conflict between the forces of good and of evil is in view ..."
John Nolland, Word Biblical Commentary: Luke 9:21 - 18:34 (Dallas: Word, 2008), 564–565.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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