Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SCORPION

(Heb. ʿaqrāḇ; Gk. skorpíos).

An Arachnid (a class which includes spiders) of the order Scorpiones. Scorpions are nocturnal, inhabiting warm, dry climates, and are prone to enter houses and seek asylum in clothing, beds, cracks, and crevices.

Approximately 12 varieties of scorpions inhabit Israel. The largest and most dangerous is the rock scorpion which is 127-177 mm. (5-7 in.) long. The most common scorpions in Israel are the yellow scorpion (Buthus questriatus) and the black scorpion (Buthus judaicus).

The scorpion has a poison sting at the tip of its tail used to paralyze its prey. Scorpions do not intentionally attack humans, but they will sting a human out of self-defense.

In the OT scorpions (Heb. ʿaqrāḇ) are associated with the dangers of the wilderness (Deut. 8:15). Rehoboam refers to scorpions analogously in reference to his proposed harsh, stinging rule over the people (1 Kgs. 12:11, 14 = 2 Chr. 10:11, 14). Ezekiel’s call by God includes an analogy of the sting of the scorpion to the rebellious nature of the people (Ezek. 2:6).

Jesus speaks of scorpions (Gk. skorpíos) as dangerous (Luke 10:19) and undesirable (11:12). In Revelation an analogy is made to the sting of scorpions as an indication of torture and harm (Rev. 9:3, 5, 10).

Alan Ray Buescher

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SCORPION

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)