2191. echidna
Strong's Lexicon
echidna: Viper, serpent

Original Word: ἔχιδνα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: echidna
Pronunciation: EKH-id-nah
Phonetic Spelling: (ekh'-id-nah)
Definition: Viper, serpent
Meaning: a serpent, snake, viper.

Word Origin: Derived from a presumed derivative of ἔχω (echō), meaning "to have" or "to hold," possibly referring to the creature's ability to hold venom.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent in Strong's Concordance, the concept of a venomous serpent can be related to the Hebrew word נָחָשׁ (nachash), Strong's Hebrew 5175, which is used for "serpent" or "snake."

Usage: The term "echidna" is used in the New Testament to refer to a venomous snake, specifically a viper. It is often employed metaphorically to describe individuals or groups characterized by deceit, malice, or hypocrisy. The imagery of a viper conveys danger, treachery, and the potential for harm.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East and Greco-Roman world, vipers were well-known for their deadly venom and were often feared. They were common in the wilderness areas of Judea and other parts of the Mediterranean region. The viper's sudden and lethal strike made it a fitting symbol for treachery and hidden danger. In Jewish tradition, serpents were also associated with sin and evil, stemming from the Genesis account of the serpent in the Garden of Eden.

HELPS Word-studies

2191 éxidna – properly, a poisonous snake; (figuratively) incisive words that deliver deadly venom, with the use of blasphemy. This switches the bitter for the sweet, light for darkness, etc. 2191/exidna ("viper") then suggests the venomous desire to reverse what is true for what is false.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from echis (a viper, adder)
Definition
a viper
NASB Translation
viper (1), vipers (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2191: ἔχιδνα

ἔχιδνα, ἐχιδνης, , a viper: Acts 28:3 (Hesiod, Herodotus, Tragg., Aristophanes, Plato, others); γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν offspring of vipers (anguigenae, Ovid, metam. 3,531), addressed to cunning, malignant, wicked men: Matthew 3:7; Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33; Luke 3:7.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
viper.

Of uncertain origin; an adder or other poisonous snake (literally or figuratively) -- viper.

Forms and Transliterations
εχιδνα έχιδνα ἔχιδνα εχιδνων εχιδνών ἐχιδνῶν εχίνοι εχίνος εχίνους echidna échidna echidnon echidnôn echidnōn echidnō̂n
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 3:7 N-GFP
GRK: αὐτοῖς Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν τίς ὑπέδειξεν
NAS: to them, You brood of vipers, who
KJV: O generation of vipers, who
INT: to them Brood of vipers who forewarned

Matthew 12:34 N-GFP
GRK: γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε
NAS: You brood of vipers, how can
KJV: O generation of vipers, how can ye,
INT: Offspring of vipers how are you able

Matthew 23:33 N-GFP
GRK: ὄφεις γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς φύγητε
NAS: you brood of vipers, how
KJV: [ye] generation of vipers, how
INT: [You] serpents offspring of vipers how shall you escape

Luke 3:7 N-GFP
GRK: αὐτοῦ Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν τίς ὑπέδειξεν
NAS: by him, You brood of vipers, who
KJV: O generation of vipers, who
INT: him Offspring of vipers who forwarned

Acts 28:3 N-NFS
GRK: τὴν πυράν ἔχιδνα ἀπὸ τῆς
NAS: them on the fire, a viper came
KJV: there came a viper out of
INT: the fire a viper out of the

Strong's Greek 2191
5 Occurrences


ἔχιδνα — 1 Occ.
ἐχιδνῶν — 4 Occ.

















2190
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