Does the Bible Say That Cobras Make Themselves Deaf?

And sometimes skeptics use the same methodology of reading poetic passages over-literally and then alleging that Scripture is in error on basic facts (in this case, on animal physiology and capability). Yet because of their incorrect hermeneutic, it is the skeptics who are in error. The poetic passages (especially Psalms and Proverbs) use poetry (as well as symbolism, simile, and metaphor) to teach moral lessons or offer insight into the human condition and are not meant to be taken hyper-literally.

Deaf Cobras or Deceptive People?

In Psalm 58, David paints a vivid poetic word picture using Hebrew parallelism, regarding the snakes used by snake charmers. In the second half of Psalm 58:4, David makes the curious statement that cobras (or adders, depending on the translation) can make themselves deaf by “stopping their ears.” But remembering that this is Hebrew poetry and not historical narrative, one can spot that these two verses utilize simile and synthetic parallelism. Looking at three main English translations below, we can easily see these elements.

They have venom like the venom of a serpent; Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear, So that it does not hear the voice of charmers, Or a skillful caster of spells. (Psalm 58:4–5 NASB)

Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. (Psalm 58:4–5 NIV)

They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. (Psalm 58:4–5 ESV)

The point David is making is not that a snake is deaf or that it can stop up or plug its ears, nor is he advocating that someone take up a job in snake-charming.

The point David is making is not that a snake is deaf or that it can stop up or plug its ears, nor is he advocating that someone take up a job in snake-charming. He is likely using a common sight, that of a snake charmer. Snake charmers were common in Egypt and parts of the Middle East (as well as India) from before the time of David onward and in Egypt and Morocco even today.1 They were the original “street performer,” hoping to have money thrown at them from onlookers. David is taking this well-known visual and using it as a simile for the wicked in Israel.2

The image employed is that these wicked men in Israel are like the snake in the basket—except they neither listen to the music nor watch the performer playing his pipe or singing. Because they “stop up their ears,” they are not an entranced snake; they are venomous, deadly, and unpredictable. An actual performing snake charmer would not have a deaf snake, because he knows that the sound of his voice or his pipe works as a calming effect upon the snake.3 A completely deaf serpent would be more likely to strike him and kill him. David here is saying that this is the case with wicked men, and in Psalm 58:6, David prays that God would break their teeth (in essence defang them and render their venom ineffective), and then he compares them to lions and again prays for God to break their teeth. A toothless lion, though still dangerous, is much less so. This is the point David is making in this Psalm, using poetic imagery to impress a visual in our mind of the danger of a wicked man’s poison.

As It Was in David’s Time, So It Was in Christ’s Time and Even Today

David again uses this same imagery (minus the snake-charmers) in Psalm 140:1–2: “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps.”

When examining the text, it is easy to see that Scripture is not claiming that snakes are or have the ability to make themselves deaf.

When examining the text, it is easy to see that Scripture is not claiming that snakes are or have the ability to make themselves deaf. Rather David, through the use of poetic imagery, is comparing his enemies (and by proxy the nation of Israel’s enemies) to dangerous serpents that appear to be docile but are cunning and deadly.

In a similar manner, Jesus warned of the same types of wicked people as being deceptive and deadly when he stated: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). Both groups (“tamed” cobras and “sheepskin-wearing” wolves) want to appear outwardly as harmless but have extremely evil intent. But Jesus did not leave us ignorant of their deception. He gave us a discernment guideline to follow:

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:16–20)