254. That by the “seed of the serpent” is meant all infidelity, is evident from the signification of a “serpent” as being all evil; “seed” is that which produces and is produced, or that which begets and is begotten; and as the church is here spoken of, this is infidelity.

In Isaiah, in reference to the Jewish Church in its perverted state, it is called a “seed of evil doers” a “seed of adultery” a “seed of falsehood:”

Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, sons that are destroyers; they have forsaken Jehovah, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel, they have estranged themselves backward (Isaiah 1:4).

Again:

Draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer. Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood ? (Isaiah 57:3-4).

And again, speaking of the “serpent” or “dragon” who is there called Lucifer:

Thou art cast out of thy sepulchre like an abominable shoot, because thou hast corrupted thy land, thou hast slain thy people; the seed of evil doers shall not be called to eternity (Isaiah 14:19-20).