Snail

Snails and slugs are not very common in countries so dry in summer as Palestine. Hence, perhaps, the fact, that there is only one allusion to them in Scripture. This occurs in Psa 58:8, where the figure seems to be more significant, if understood of snails without shells, i.e. slugs, rather than shell-snails, though true of both.

In Lev 11:30, is probably a sort of lizard; and in Psa 58:8, the common slug or snail without a shell, which "melteth" away by depositing its slime wherever it passes.\par

Snail.

1. The Hebrew word, shablul, occurs only in Psa 58:8. The rendering of the Authorized Version is probably correct. The term would denote either a limax or a helix, which are particularly noticeable for the slimy track, they leave behind them, by which they seem to waste themselves away. To this, or to the fact that many of them are shrivelled up among the rocks, in the long heat of the summer, the psalmist refers.

2. The Hebrew word, chomet, occurs only as the name of some unclean animal in Lev 11:30. Perhaps some kind of lizard may be intended.

chomet (Lev 11:30). Rather "a lizard." Some think the Stellio lacerta. The Chaldee means "to bow down"; the Muslims kill it, as though it mimicked them at prayers. The shablul in Psa 58:8 is a "snail" or ’slug" (limax), which delights in the damp night; but in the hot sunshine, as it crawls over a dry surface and moistens the way with its secretion, its moisture melts away.

In Lev 11:30 it is supposed that the word chomet refers to some kind of lizard: the R.V. has ’sand-lizard.’ In Psa 58:8 the word is shablul, of which it says it ’melteth.’ It was erroneously supposed by the Jews that by the slime which a snail leaves on its trail it gradually wasted away. The passage simply means that when dead the snail seems to melt entirely away: it is used as a symbol of the wicked passing away.

By: Emil G. Hirsch, I. M. Casanowicz

Rendering given in the English versions for "shabbelul," which occurs only in Ps. lviii. 9 (A. V. 8). An equivalent rendering is given bythe Targum and the Talmud; the Septuagint and Vulgate give "wax." The idea of melting away, expressed in the passage referred to, may have arisen from the trail of slime which this mollusk leaves behind as it crawls, or from its retirement, or "melting away," into cracks and crevices. There are numerous and various mollusks in Syria and Palestine. For "ḥomeṭ" (Lev. xi. 30), which the Authorized Version renders by "snail," see Lizard.

The shabbelul serves as a cure for boils (Shab. 77b). Of the ḥomeṭ it is said that at birth it is of the size of a lentil. Other conchylia are comprised under the name of "ḥalazon" (see Sanh. 91a); 'Ab. Zarah 28b). The "melting away" of the snail on its walk is referred to in M. Ḳ. 6b. In the egg of the snail the white is not separated from the yolk ('Ab. Zarah 40a).

Bibliography:

Tristram, Nat. Hist. p. 268;

Lewysohn, Zoologie des Talmuds, p. 279.

SNAIL.—l. chômet, Lev 11:30. See Lizard. 2. shabbĕlul, Psa 58:8 ‘Let them he as a snail which melteth and passeth away.’ The reference here appears to be to the slimy track which a snail leaves behind it, which gives the appearance of ‘melting away.’

E. W. G. Masterman.

snāl ((1) חמט, ḥōmeṭ, the Revised Version (British and American) “sand-lizard,” Septuagint σαῦρα, saúra, “lizard” (Lev 11:30); (2) שׁבּלוּל, shabb^elūl, Septuagint κηρός, kērós, “wax” (Psa 58:8)): (1) Ḥōmeṭ is 7th in the list of unclean “creeping things” in Lev 11:30, and occurs nowhere else. “Snail” is not warranted by Septuagint or Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) the Revised Version (British and American) has “sand-lizard.” It may be the skink or a species of Lacerta. See LIZARD. (2) Shabb^elūl is translated “snail” in Psa 58:8: “Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away.” Mandelkern gives limax, “slug.” Gesenius derives shabb^elūl from bālal, “to pour”; compare Arabic balla, “to wet,” instancing λεῖμαξ, leı́max, “snail,” or “slug,” from λείβω, leı́bo, “to pour.” While Septuagint has kēros, “wax,” Talmud (Mō‛ēdh Ḳāṭān 6b) supports “snail.” The ordinary explanation of the passage, which is not very satisfying, is that the snail leaves a trail of mucus (i.e. it melts) as it moves along. This does not in any way cause the snail to waste away, because its glands are continually manufacturing fresh mucous. Two large species of snail, Helix aspersa and Helix pomatia, are collected and eaten, boiled, by the Christians of Syria and Palestine, especially in Lent. The Jews and Moslems declare them to be unclean and do not eat them.

A snail is a small, soft animal that carries its shell like a house on its back. Snails belong to a group of soft-bodied animals called mollusks, which includes other sea creatures like clams and oysters. Many snails live in the lands where the Bible stories took place. Some water snails can spread a serious disease (bilharzia, also known as schistosomiasis) that makes people sick.

In ancient times, people valued purple cloth very highly. They made this special purple dye from a type of sea snail (Murex trunculus and Murex brandaris). The Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Assyrians learned how to make this dye around 1500 BC.

During the Roman Empire, special fishermen caught these snails. They could only catch them in fall and winter. In spring, when the snails laid eggs, they produced very little dye. In summer, the snails stayed hidden. These snails lived in the Mediterranean Sea, especially near Crete and the Phoenician coast. The city of Tyre became famous for making the best purple dye, called Tyrian purple. They dipped cloth in the dye twice to make it especially rich in color. Today, we can still find huge piles of snail shells along the Mediterranean coast where people made this dye.

Snails in the Bible

The Israelites could not make purple dye themselves and had to buy purple goods from other people (Ezekiel 27:16). Lydia was a “seller of purple” or of cloth dyed purple (Acts 16:14). Purple was a sign of status, royalty, and wealth (compare Exodus 25:4; 28:5–6, 15; Numbers 15:38; 2 Chronicles 2:7; Esther 8:15; Proverbs 31:22; Song of Solomon 3:10; Ezekiel 27:7; Daniel 5:7).

Exodus 30:34–35 refers to "onycha," which was an important ingredient uses to make incense. Onycha comes from a sea snail (a Near Eastern member of the molluskan family Strombidae). When the snail pulls into its shell, it uses a hard plate to close the opening, like a door. This plate is called onycha. The operculum helps the snail move and defend itself. When burned, onycha releases a strong scent. It is even more potent when mixed with other fragrant substances. The name comes from the Greek word "onyx," which means "fingernail" or "claw."

See also Animals; Dye, Dyeing, Dyer.

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