Luke 11:12

12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Luke 11:12 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:12

Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a
scorpion
&c.] Of which there are three sorts; some are terrestrial, or land scorpions, scorpions of the earth, a kind of serpents, very venomous and mischievous, to whom the wicked Jews are compared, ( Ezekiel 2:6 ) and the locusts in ( Revelation 9:3 Revelation 9:5 ) others are airy, or flying scorpions, a sort of fowl; and others are sea scorpions; of the fish kind: it is not easy to say which of them is here meant. There is an herb which is called (Nynbrqe) F14, "the scorpion": it leaves are like unto a scorpion, as the Jewish commentators say F15. This is observed with the same view as the former. By it may be meant here, either the fish that is so called, since a fish is mentioned before; or rather, the land scorpion, which is of the serpent kind; this brings forth little worms, in the form of eggs, as F16 Pliny says: and it is said, that a scorpion put into an empty eggshell, has been used to be given to persons, whose death has been desired; which it bursting from, at once strikes and kills: but what father would do so to a child!


FOOTNOTES:

F14 Misn. Erubin, c. 2. sect. 6.
F15 Maimon. & Bartonora in lb,
F16 Lib. 11. c. 25.

Luke 11:12 In-Context

10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
14 Now He was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed.
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