Wonders of Creation
Fascinating Facts About Snakes: Nature, Torah References, and Amazing Abilities
From ancient symbolism to survival skills — how snakes hunt, sense, adapt, and inspire both awe and caution across cultures and nature
(Photo: shutterstock)There are about 2,500 species of snakes in the world, and they all share common traits: a long, smooth, limbless body made up of 100 to 400 vertebrae (depending on the snake’s size), and an incredible ability to coil, slither, and slip easily into cracks and crevices.
The Snake in the Torah
The snake makes its first appearance in the Torah as a crafty and deceitful creature: "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made…" (Bereishit 3:1).
It successfully tempted Chava (Eve) to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, Adam followed, and the result was their expulsion from Eden. The snake was cursed to lose its legs: “On your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.” From then on, enmity between humans and snakes was decreed: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Later, the snake appears when Moshe turns his staff into a serpent before Pharaoh, demonstrating the supreme power of God. It is also mentioned in Yaakov’s blessing to the tribe of Dan: “Dan shall be a serpent by the road, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider falls backward” (Bereishit 49:17).
How Do Snakes Smell?
Snakes have an extraordinarily developed sense of smell, located in their mouths in an organ called the Jacobson’s Organ. They flick their long tongues out to capture airborne scent particles. When the tongue retracts, the tips enter two openings of Jacobson’s Organ, transmitting information about scents in the environment. This unique system allows them to track prey with remarkable precision.
How Do Snakes Eat?
A snake can swallow prey that weighs up to half its own body weight. This is possible because God designed snakes with extremely flexible bodies. Their jaw joints are elastic, allowing them to open their mouths wide and engulf large prey.
However, swallowing is not easy. The process requires enormous effort, and after a large meal the snake rests for days or even weeks, digesting its food before hunting again.
Snake Records
Largest Snake: The green anaconda of the Amazon rainforest, is over 8 meters long. While the reticulated python can exceed 10 meters in length, the anaconda’s massive girth earns it the title of the world’s heaviest snake.
Smallest Snake: The Leptotyphlops carlae of Barbados, reaching only 10 cm in length and thinner than a spaghetti noodle.
Fastest Snake: The black mamba, reaching speeds of 5 meters per second, is fast enough to outrun humans. It can also raise nearly half its body upright, up to 5 meters tall, in a striking display.
What to Do if You Encounter a Snake
Step back slowly without sudden movements, but keep the snake in sight.
Do not try to capture or kill the snake, as this only provokes it. Only a trained snake catcher can safely remove it.
In case of a bite, keep the victim calm (a fast heartbeat spreads venom more quickly), give only water, remove jewelry or tight clothing, keep the person lying down and still, and transport them immediately to the hospital.
Expressions and Teachings from Jewish Tradition
Uncovered Drinks: The Talmud (Jerusalem Talmud, Terumot 8) warns against drinking beverages left uncovered, fearing that a snake may have injected venom into them.
“A snake sheds its skin but not its nature”: Symbolizing people who change appearances or words but not their true character.
“A man cannot dwell with a snake in one basket” (Yevamot 112b): One cannot live peacefully with a wicked person.
“A snake under the straw”: A saying to describe a person who appears friendly but harbors harmful intent.
Wonders of Creation
One of the snake’s most fascinating traits is its ability to shed its skin. The process begins with a split near the head. As the snake wriggles out, the outer skin peels away and turns inside out, leaving behind a complete, delicate shell. Beneath it lies fresh, new skin — an incredible natural renewal system.
The snake, feared and fascinating, has been a symbol of cunning, danger, and transformation since ancient times. It continues to inspire awe in science, scripture, and culture alike.
