Scripture · Luke 10:33-34
Luke 10:19
Saint Margaret
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
A haloed woman stands above a reclining figure in a narrow interior, with serpentine coils emerging at the left edge.
About the artwork
The upright saint and the figure on the steps establish a strong vertical relationship, but not every identity is secure. The coiled creature at the edge connects the image with Margaret’s traditional dragon story. No open jaws or act of swallowing is clearly visible, so the familiar legend should not dictate details that the reproduction does not show.
The work’s present collection, date, and physical measurements remain unconfirmed. The title identifies Margaret, a saint whose dragon encounter comes from later hagiography. Moreau’s ornate, dim setting makes the subject an emblematic confrontation; the unnamed figure below should remain unnamed rather than be forced into a specific episode.
Featured in: Gustave Moreau’s Bible Paintings: The Homebody Who Painted Salome
What does Luke 10:19 mean?
Luke 10:19 occurs when the seventy-two disciples return from their mission, astonished that evil spirits submit to Jesus’ name. Jesus speaks of authority over snakes, scorpions, and the enemy’s power. He then directs their joy beyond that power to their names being written in heaven.
The verse is not an account of Margaret or her dragon. It supplies a later Christian reading of victory over evil, a theme associated with the saint’s legend. The following verse matters as well: the emphasis does not rest on a spectacular contest alone, but on belonging to God.
Luke 10:19 provides a theme of authority over evil; Margaret’s dragon imagery belongs to later Christian tradition.
Sources
Collection not identified; date unconfirmed.
Gustave Moreau’s Bible Paintings: The Homebody Who Painted Salome. Artwork reading adapted from this guide.
Luke 10 — Berean Standard Bible. Context for Luke 10:19.
Also from Luke:The Angel Appearing to ZachariasAnnunciation
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