SCORPION

SCORPION (Heb. עַקְרָב, akrav; pl. akrabbim). The scorpion is mentioned once in the Bible as a dangerous creature of the wilderness (Deut. 8:15). The word akrabbim is also used for prickly thornbushes (I Kings 12:11; Ezek. 2:6), and Ascent of Akrabbim (*Ma'aleh Akrabbim) in the Negev (Num. 34:4) owes its name either to the scorpions or to the thorns found there. Ten species of scorpion are found in Israel, the most dangerous of which is Buthus quinquestriatus. This species is found mainly in deserts, but it occurs also in inhabited regions. When young, the scorpions are yellowish white, later becoming yellow, brown, or black. One of the minor miracles mentioned as occurring in the Second Temple period was that "no serpent or scorpion inflicted injury in Jerusalem" (Avot 5:5).

bibliography:

Lewysohn, Zool, 298f., nos. 398, 399; J. Margolin, Zo'ologyah, 1 (1943), 116–9; J. Feliks, Animal World of the Bible (1962), 136. add. bibliography: Feliks, Ha-Tzome'ah, 263.

[Jehuda Feliks]

scor·pi·on / ˈskôrpēən/ • n. a terrestrial arachnid (order Scorpiones) with lobsterlike pincers and a poisonous sting at the end of its jointed tail, which it can hold curved over the back. Most kinds live in tropical and subtropical areas. ∎  used in names of other arachnids and insects resembling a scorpion, e.g., false scorpion, water scorpion.

scorpion the intense pain cause by the sting of the scorpion is proverbial. In traditional belief, its flesh was thought to be a cure for its own sting; it is also said by ancient writers that when surrounded by fire, a scorpion will commit suicide by stinging itself.
a whip (or lash) of scorpions originally a biblical allusion, as to 1 Kings 12:11; scorpion here is taken to denote a kind of whip made of knotted cords, or armed with pieces of lead or steel spikes. The allusive force was subsequently reinforced by Milton in Paradise Lost (1667).

scorpion Any of numerous species of arachnids that live in warmer regions throughout the world. It has two main body sections, two eyes, a pair of pedipalps (pincers), and a long slender tail ending in a curved, poisonous sting. Length: to 17cm (7in). Class Arachnida; order Scorpionida.

Scorpion ★ 1986 (R)

A karatemaster and anti-terrorist expert defuses a skyjacking and infiltrates international assassination conspiracies. Exreal life karate champ Tulleners is a hohum hero, and the story is warmed over. 98m/C VHS, DVD . Tonny Tulleners, Allen Williams, Don Murray; D: William Reed.