Exo 7:10 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 10. It became a serpent. ] tannin . What kind of a serpent is here intended, learned men are not agreed. From the manner in which the original word is used in ; ; some very large creature, either aquatic or amphibious, is probably meant; some have thought that the crocodile , a well-known Egyptian animal, is here intended. In it is said that this rod was changed into a serpent , but the original word there is nachash , and here tannin , the same word which we translate whale , . As nachash seems to be a term restricted to no one particular meaning, as has already been shown on Gen. iii.; . So the words tannin , tanninim , tannim, and tannoth , are used to signify different kinds of animals in the Scriptures. The word is supposed to signify the jackal in ; , &c., &c.; and also a dragon, serpent , or whale , ; ; and is termed, in our translation, a sea-monster , . As it was a rod or staff that was changed into the tannim in the cases mentioned here, it has been supposed that an ordinary serpent is what is intended by the word, because the size of both might be then pretty nearly equal: but as a miracle was wrought on the occasion, this circumstance is of no weight; it was as easy for God to change the rod into a crocodile, or any other creature, as to change it into an adder or common snake.

‏ Exodus 7:10

Verse 10. It became a serpent.] tannin. What kind of a serpent is here intended, learned men are not agreed. From the manner in which the original word is used in Ps 74:13; Isa 27:1; 51:9; Job 7:12; some very large creature, either aquatic or amphibious, is probably meant; some have thought that the crocodile, a well-known Egyptian animal, is here intended. In Ex 4:3 it is said that this rod was changed into a serpent, but the original word there is nachash, and here tannin, the same word which we translate whale, Ge 1:21.

As nachash seems to be a term restricted to no one particular meaning, as has already been shown on Gen. iii.; See Clarke on Ge 3:1. So the words tannin, tanninim, tannim, and tannoth, are used to signify different kinds of animals in the Scriptures. The word is supposed to signify the jackal in Job 30:29; Ps 44:19; Isa 13:22; Isa 34:13; 35:7; Isa 43:20; Jer 9:11, &c., &c.; and also a dragon, serpent, or whale, Job 7:12; Ps 91:13; Isa 27:1; 51:9; Jer 51:34; Eze 29:3; 32:2; and is termed, in our translation, a sea-monster, La 4:3. As it was a rod or staff that was changed into the tannim in the cases mentioned here, it has been supposed that an ordinary serpent is what is intended by the word, because the size of both might be then pretty nearly equal: but as a miracle was wrought on the occasion, this circumstance is of no weight; it was as easy for God to change the rod into a crocodile, or any other creature, as to change it into an adder or common snake.