Mythological and Mysterious Creatures in the KJV
Cockatrices
The cockatrice is a mythological creature with the body of a dragon or serpent, and the head and legs of a rooster. According to myth, they are the product of a rooster egg (a rare thing indeed!) hatched by a serpent or toad. A magical creature, it can kill with a glance, and its breath is poisonous. The terms "cockatrice" and "basilisk" are usually used interchangeably.
The cockatrice makes five appearances in the KJV - four in the main text and once in the margin:
| Verse | KJV | 1885 RV | NIV | NASB | NKJV |
RSV |
| Proverbs 23:32 | adder (margin: cockatrice) |
adder (margin: basilisk) |
viper |
viper |
viper |
adder |
| Isaiah 11:8 |
cockatrice (margin: adders) |
basilisk (margin: adder) |
viper |
viper |
viper |
adder |
| Isaiah 14:29 |
cockatrice (margin: adder) | basilisk (margin: adder) |
viper |
viper |
viper |
adder |
| Isaiah 59:5 |
cockatrice (margin: adders) |
basilisks (margin: adders) |
vipers |
adders |
vipers |
adders |
| Jeremiah 8:17 |
cockatrices |
basilisks (margin: serpents) |
vipers |
adders |
vipers |
adders |
Image from a 15th century manuscript of a cockatrice being attacked by a weasel,
the only animal believed to be able to kill a cockatrice.
Other Interesting Tidbits
- The LXX (the ancient Greek translation of the OT used by the early church) has basilisk in Psalm 90(91):13 (where the KJV has "adder") and Isa 59:5 (where the KJV has "cockatrice"), although it is unlikely the Greek word "basiliskos" meant the same thing as "cockatrice" today. It likely referred to a dangerous serpent.
- In the 1608 publication The Historie of Serpents, Edward Topsell
relays an account of one found alive in a church vault in Rome the mid 9th century. According to the account, the creature had poisoned the air with its breath causing many deaths in the city, but was finally killed by the prayers of Pope Leo IV.
- Eugene Roger, an eminent 17th century French priest, describes in his publication Travels in Palestine seeing what he believed to be a dead cockatrice. He also mentions the account involving Pope Leo IV.
- Pliny the Elder, a first-century philosopher, wrote "Anyone who sees the eyes of a basilisk serpent (basilisci serpentis) dies immediately. It is no more than twelve inches long, and has white markings on its head that look like a diadem. Unlike other snakes, which flee its hiss, it moves forward with its middle raised high. Its touch and even its breath scorch grass, kill bushes and burst rocks." (Natural History, Book 8, 33)
Related Links:
Christian
- The fascinating article Of The Cockatrice from Edward Topsell's 1608 publication The Historie of Serpents
Non-Christian