The dictionary meaning and etymology of 'reptile' is 'crawling/creeping' things and that is "carnal meaning"? A rope being described as 'serpentine' is 'carnal'? Etymology is carnal? Interesting.
On the note of etymology. It seems that the Hebrew language is remarkably different from Greek language in that words for very different things can be similar because its more an 'active' or concrete language. Or, at least the way words are thought out is to knowledge very different.
Consider the words "arc", "carriage", "cargo", "circle", "creek", "crack", "race" ..a Hebrew thought root might be along the lines of "it follows a defined path" ("arc"). Perhaps consider for a moment: "Nissan Pathfinder".) So seemingly unrelated things might have similar spellings: things burns when touched or that appear to be on fire or that glow glows as if they were on fire might have similar spelling--but might be rather unrelated beyond the base functional/active and concrete natures.
Seraphim might glows as if afire--things that are aflame tend to be burning or appear to be burning might have similar spellings. A serpent's venom if it gets in your eye or in your blood burns (excruciatingly so I've heard). It might be said that Hebrew words tend to be rather 'active' or 'action oriented'. A serpent's venom burns while Seraphim might appear to be 'burning' or 'aflame' though Seraphim aren't necessarily dragons or snakes. The word 'serpent' at its root is 'burning' or 'aflame'. The word often translated for Sun is in Hebrew similar to the word 'shimmer'...which is a lot like Summer.
For further edification: the word for shepherd is 'roeh' (resh - ayin - heh). Is not a racecar shepherded by its driver (droehver?) around the predefined path/track? You know like he-roe (like Superman or superhero). So if you follow a path, perhaps you shepherd your body. The Good Shepherd keeps those under his care away from dangers, away from snakes--i.e. keeps them on a defined path.
With arc, circle, etc. I allude to the Hebrew word orahh meaning a path followed by travelers. However, I also illustrates is relation to the word for shepherd and now the word for chauffered and chaperone. The 'hh' probably comes off as a hard 'c'. I suppose I can 'see across languages' when I read.
Someone might ask: "Can I borrow your 'it-is-guided'?" or "Can I borrow your I-shepherd-it?"
It seems rather clear that the Hebrew etymological sense of the word 'serpent' is more of a focus on the burn (you know like getting 'burned' from a bad deal) from the venom rather than being much of a fixation on its reptilian nature. Venom (whether it comes out flaming or not) is important for a serpent to be able to eat (In the movie Jurassic Park, raptors would blind their prey with their venom). Perhaps that gets to the heart of why people who make rotten, scandalous deals are called 'snakes' (i.e. the victims get burned by the venom (ideas, lies, tongue-stuff of the perpetrator). The perpetrator gets to 'eat' from the takings. However, some people figure it out before its too late. No doubt, such experiences can lead to wisdom. Who on Earth would ever suggest the the 'snake' or 'conman' to be author of any wisdom gained?
(Fear as in reverence.)The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
Re: Wisdom.
Could it be that wisdom comes from seeing that instead of living waters or life-giving waters flowing out of the Great Dragon's mouth out flows rivers of venom that blind and poison and bring about spiritual and/or physical death? Quite a contrast to rivers of living waters, no? Could it be that wisdom, rather than coming from the snake itself, might instead come from the experience or observations of the undesirable side effects of playing with snakes or other things that burn?
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