62 The identity of this “club” (also referred to as a “serpent” in the next line) is uncertain. It may refer to an Assyrian king, or to Ahaz. For discussion see J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (), 1:. The viper/adder referred to in the second half of the verse is his successor.
63 Heb “flying burning one.” The designation “burning one” may allude to the serpent’s appearance or the effect of its poisonous bite. (See the note at .) The qualifier “flying” probably refers to the serpent’s quick, darting movements, though one might propose a homonym here, meaning “biting.” (See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah [], 1:, n. 18.) Some might think in terms of a mythological flying, fire breathing dragon (cf. “a flying saraph”; “a flying fiery dragon”), but this proposal does not make good sense in 30:6, where the phrase “flying burning one” appears again in a list of desert animals.

In other versions

Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you,

that the rod that struck you is broken,

for from the serpent’s root will come forth an adder,

and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken;

from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,

its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.

Don’t rejoice, all of you in Philistia,

because the rod of the one who struck you is broken.

For a viper will come from the root of a snake,

and from its egg comes a flying serpent.

Do not rejoice, you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken—

that the king who attacked you is dead.

For from that snake a more poisonous snake will be born,

a fiery serpent to destroy you!

You must not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken,

for a viper will come forth from the root of the snake,

and its fruit will be a flying serpent.

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina,

Because the rod of him that smote thee is broken:

For out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice,

And his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

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