ShottleBop

In many other translations (check out <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com" target="_blank">www.biblegateway.com</a> ), the word IS translated as "wild ox" or "buffalo"--either of which, in the contexts in which the KJV used "unicorn," would fit much better.

Wyrdsmyth

So... What should 'dragon' be translated as? How about 'cockatrice' and 'behemoth' and 'leviathan'? Are they all just bad translations?

brighid

W -

It's ALL just a bad translation!!!

Brighid

wordsmyth

What is the correct translation of fiery serpents/fiery flying serpents? Are they the same as dragons?

Numbers 21
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Deuteronomy 8
15 Who 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;

Isaiah 14
29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

Isaiah 30
6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

What about Satyrs?

Isaiah 13
21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.

Isaiah 34
14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.

Ether

I don't think it should be taken literaly. The people who wrote it were trying to describe something they had never seen and tried to associate what they saw with things of this world. Fire and serpents, wheel inside wheel, dragon, unicorn all of those are just bad descriptions.

Also with all the translations there is even more reason for not taking it seriously.

gilly54

Which has led to people picking and choosing what they want to believe in and what they won't, which led to the divisiveness in the judeo/christian religions and more religious wars, ridiculous dogma and so on. At least it gives us non-believers very good ammunition and a good laugh.