What is an asp in the Bible?
An asp is a very poisonous serpent found in the Middle East. In Isaiah 11:8, the nursing child plays safely on the hole of the asp, illustrating the coming kingdom's removal of the curse and restoration of tranquility. Scripture uses it as a symbol of the dangerous creatures that will be harmless in that era.
Les explains that in Isaiah chapter 11, the whole animal kingdom—including the most ferocious, carnivorous, meat-eating species—will cohabit the same pasture with the lamb, the goat, and human children. He notes that Isaiah 11:8 says the nursing child shall play on the hole of the asp, which was a very poisonous serpent in the Middle East in particular, and the weaned child shall put his hand on a cockatrice. Les points out that three children are mentioned in just two verses, three times, showing it is not a slip of the pen but the inspired Word of God. When this kingdom is set up, all the ravages of the curse will be gone, reverting to the beauty, glory, and tranquility before sin entered. These little children prove human beings will come in at the front end of the kingdom and reproduce. He also notes that before Adam sinned, the animal kingdom ate only what grew naturally; permission to kill and eat meat came after the flood with Noah.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.