257、“蛇的头”表示总体上邪恶的统治，尤表自我之爱的统治。这从自我之爱的性质清楚可知，自我之爱的性质是这样：它寻求统治，甚至统治地上的一切；犹嫌不足，还争取统治天上的一切；这时，它仍不罢手，甚至想统治主自己；事实上，至此它还是不满足。这种倾向就隐藏在自我之爱的每一丝火花中。只要沉迷于这爱，放松约束，你就会发现它会立刻爆发，甚至膨胀到那野心勃勃的高度。由此可见“蛇”，即自我之爱的邪恶如何渴望实施统治，又如何仇恨凡拒绝它的统治之人。这就是“蛇的头”，它抬高自己、被主踹到地上，以至于“用肚子行走，吃尘土”，如前一节所说的。在以赛亚书，经上如此描述被称为“路西弗”的“蛇”或“龙”：
路西弗啊，你心里曾说，我要升到诸天，我要高举我的宝座在神众星以上，我要坐在聚会的山上，在北方的极处，我要爬上云端，我要与至高者同等。然而你必被抛下地狱，到坑中的极处。（以赛亚书14:13–15）
在启示录，经上也描述了这“蛇”或“龙”是如何高举其头的：
有一条大红龙，七头十角，七头上戴着七个冠冕；但他被摔在地上。（启示录12:3，9）
诗篇：
耶和华对我主说，你坐在我的右手边，等我使你仇敌作你的脚凳。耶和华必从锡安送出你力量的杖，祂必在列族中施行审判，使它们满了尸首；祂击碎了广大地域上的首领。祂要喝路旁的河水，因此必抬起头来。（诗篇110:1-2，6-7）
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]257. The fact that the snake's head means the tyranny of evil in general and of self-love in particular can be seen in the nature of self-love. Its character is such that it seeks power, and not just power but power over everything on earth. Not stopping there, it strives for control over everything in heaven. Even then it does not rest but aims for power over the Lord. And in fact it still would not rest at that point. This tendency lies hidden in every single glimmer of self-love. Just indulge that love and ease the restraints on it and you will find that it instantly rushes out and swells to those dimensions.
You can therefore see how the snake — the evil of self-love — wishes to dominate, and how it hates anyone it cannot dominate. That is the snake's head, which lifts itself up, and which the Lord tramples down to the ground, so that the snake travels on its belly and eats dirt, as the previous verse says.
This is how Isaiah describes the snake or dragon called Lucifer:{*1} Lucifer, you said in your heart, "I will scale the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God and sit on the mountain of assembly, on the flanks of the north.{*2} I will climb onto the loftiest parts of the cloud; I will become equal to the Highest One." Nevertheless, you will be thrown down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:13-14, 15)
The snake or dragon is also described in the Book of Revelation:
There was a big red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were many crowns; but it was thrown onto the earth. (Revelation 12:3, 9)
These verses describe how high it lifts its head. In David:
Jehovah said to my Lord, "Sit at my right, till I have placed your enemies as a stool for your feet. Jehovah will send the scepter of your strength out from Zion." He will judge the nations. He has filled them with corpses; he has crushed [one who was] head over much land. From the river along the way he will drink; therefore he will lift up his head. (Psalms 110:1-2, 6-7)
Footnotes:
{*1} On the identification of the snake and the dragon called Lucifer, see note 1 in 254. [LHC]
{*2} "The flanks of the north" are the most remote northern areas. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 257
257. That by the "head of the serpent" is meant the dominion of evil in general, and specifically of the love of self, is evident from its nature, which is so direful as not only to seek dominion, but even dominion over all things upon earth; nor does it rest satisfied with this, but aspires even to rule over everything in heaven, and then, not content with this, over the Lord himself, and even then it is not satisfied. This is latent in every spark of the love of self. If it were indulged, and freed from restraint, we should perceive that it would at once burst forth and would grow even to that aspiring height. Hence it is evident how the "serpent" or the evil of the love of self, desires to exercise dominion, and how much it hates all those who refuse its sway. This is that "head of the serpent" which exalts itself, and which the Lord "tramples down" even to the earth, that it may "go upon its belly, and eat dust" as stated in the verse immediately preceding. Thus also is described the "serpent" or "dragon" called "Lucifer" in Isaiah:
O Lucifer, thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the cloud, I will be made equal to the Most High yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit (Isa. 14:12-15). The "serpent" or "dragon" is also described in the Revelation in regard to the way in which he exalts his head:
A great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns, and many diadems upon his heads; but he was cast into the earth (Rev. 12:3, 9). In David:
The saying of Jehovah to my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool: Jehovah shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion, He shall judge the nations, He hath filled with dead bodies, He hath bruised the head over much land; He shall drink of the brook in the way, therefore shall He lift up the head (Ps. 110:1-2, 6-7).
Elliott(1983-1999) 257
257. 'The head of the serpent' is used to mean the reign of evil in general and of self-love in particular. This becomes clear from its very nature, which seeks not merely to exercise dominion but also to exercise it over everything on earth. Yet it is not satisfied even with that, but seeks to rule over everything in heaven. Nor is it satisfied even then, but seeks to rule over the Lord. And even then it would not be content. This inclination lies concealed within every spark of self-love. If it were shown the slightest approval and the restraint on it were slackened, you would perceive it break out instantly and strive increasingly to achieve that end. From this it is clear how 'the serpent' or evil constituting self-love wishes to have dominion, and how it hates the person it is unable to dominate. This is 'the serpent's head' which rears itself and which the Lord treads on, right down to the ground so that it goes on its belly and eats dust, as described in the previous verse. The serpent or dragon called Lucifer is similarly described in Isaiah,
Lucifer, you said in your heart, I will go up the heavens, above the stars of God I will raise my throne, and I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the uttermost parts of the north. I will go up above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself equal to the Most High. But you will indeed be cast down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isa 14:13-15.
The serpent or dragon is also described in Revelation,
A great fiery-red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads many jewels; but he was cast down to the earth. Rev 12:3, 9.This describes the height to which it raises its head. In David,
Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies as Your foot-stool; Jehovah will send the rod of Your strength from Zion. He will judge the nations, He will fill them with corpses. He has crushed their head over much land. He will drink from the stream by the way, therefore He will lift up his head. Ps 110:1, 2, 6, 7.
Latin(1748-1756) 257
257. Quod per 'caput serpentis' intelligatur dominium mali in genere, et amoris sui in specie, constare potest ex natura ejus, quae talis est ut non solum dominium quaerat sed etiam dominium super omnia terrae; nec sic acquiescit, sed super omnia caeli; nec sic quidem, sed super Dominum; et quidem nec tunc quiesceret; hoc latet in unaquavis scintilla amoris sui; si modo faveatur, et relaxaretur vinculum, percipies quod ilico rueret, et cresceret usque illuc: inde constat quomodo 'serpens,' seu malum amoris sui, dominari vult; et super quem dominari non potest, illum odit; hoc est 'caput serpentis' quod se extollit, et quod Dominus proculcat, et quidem usque ad terram ut ambulet super ventre et edat pulverem, sicut dicitur in versu mox praecedente. Ita describitur serpens seu draco qui vocatur Lucifer, apud Esaiam, Lucifer, tu dixisti in corde tuo, caelos ascendam, super stellas Dei exaltabo thronum meum, et sedebo in monte conventus, in lateribus septentrionis; ascendam super excelsa nubis, par fiam Altissimo, verum tamen ad infernum dejectus eris, ad latera foveae, xiv 13-15:serpens seu draco etiam describitur in Apocalypsi, Draco magnus rufus habens capita septem, et cornua decem, et super capitibus ejus diademata multa,... sed conjectus est in terram, xii 3, 9;
ubi quantum extollit caput, describitur: apud Davidem, Dictum Jehovae Domino Meo, Sede ad dextram Meam, usque dum posuero inimicos tuos scabellum pedibus tuis: sceptrum roboris tui mittet Jehovah e Zione,... judicabit gentes, implevit cadaveribus, contrivit caput super terram multam; e flumine in via bibet, propterea exaltabit caput, [Ps.] cx 1, 2, 6, 7.