Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. - Genesis 3:1a

The simpleness of this verse must be addressed on its own. The word "serpent" will take on an incredible symbolic imagery throughout the remainder of Scripture. Through the Old Testament and New Testament, the word will be used to define the enemy against God and His creation.

The word "beast" truly means "living thing". There was true live in this animal that was made. The enemy of God finds its origin in God. Both its origin in God and its attack upon God's people come at the direct allowance of God the Father. 

From a purely syntactical perspective, the language here remains in the poetry style of the previous chapter. The question of historicity will be not be addressed beyond the statement that this physical serpent was possessed by the Satan (adversary).

*The Bible Blogging Commentary is a slow and simple treading of the Scriptures. No quotes from other theologians and no explicit Greek/Hebrew lessons.*