3789. ophis

Lexical Summary

ophis: Serpent

Original Word: ὄφις
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: ophis
Pronunciation: o'-fis
Phonetic Spelling: (of'-is)
KJV: serpent
NASB: serpent, serpents, snake
Word Origin: [probably from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι - appearing) (through the idea of sharpness of vision)]

1. a snake
2. (figuratively, of sly cunning) an artfully malicious person
3. (especially) Satan

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

serpent.

Probably from optanomai (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively, (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan -- serpent.

see GREEK optanomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a snake
NASB Translation
serpent (6), serpents (6), snake (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3789: ὄφις

ὄφις, ὀφισεως, ὁ (perhaps named from its sight; cf. δράκων, at the beginning, and see Curtius, as under the word ὀφθαλμός); from Homer, Iliad 12, 208 down; the Sept. mostly for נָחָשׁ; a snake, serpent: Matthew 7:10; Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19; Luke 11:11; John 3:14; 1 Corinthians 10:9; Revelation 9:19; with the ancients the serpent was an emblem of cunning and wisdom, 2 Corinthians 11:3, cf. Genesis 3:1; hence, φρόνιμοι ὡς οἱ ὄφεις, Matthew 10:16 (here WH marginal reading ὁ ὄφις); hence, crafty hypocrites are called ὄφεις, Matthew 23:33. The serpent narrated to have deceived Eve (see Gen. as above) was regarded by the later Jews as the devil (Sap. ii., 23f, cf. 4 Macc. 18:8); hence, he is called ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὁ ὄφις: Revelation 12:9, 14; Revelation 20:2; see (Grimm on Sap. as above; From Lenormant, Beginnings of History etc., chapter ii., p. 109f, and) δράκων.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The Greek noun ὄφις (Strong’s 3789) designates a snake or serpent. Across the New Testament its semantic range extends from the literal reptile to potent symbols of danger, deception, evil, and, paradoxically, prudence. The occurrences cluster in three main literary settings: the teaching of Jesus, apostolic instruction, and the apocalyptic visions of John.

Old Testament Backdrop

Although ὄφις appears in the Septuagint as the common rendering of the Hebrew נָחָשׁ, the canonical Scriptures had already invested “the serpent” with theological freight. The creature of Genesis 3 embodies craftiness and rebellion; the bronze serpent of Numbers 21 becomes a type of Christ’s redemptive lifting up (compare John 3:14). These earlier narratives frame every New Testament use: any mention of a serpent recalls Eden’s fall, the need for deliverance, and God’s promise of final victory (Genesis 3:15).

Literal and Figurative Usage in the Gospels

1. Prudence amid Persecution: “Be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Jesus commends the creature’s cautious intelligence, urging missionaries to navigate hostility with sanctified discernment.
2. Parental Goodness: “Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?” (Matthew 7:10; Luke 11:11). By contrasting a nourishing fish with a harmful snake, Jesus highlights the Father’s unwavering goodness.
3. Pharisaic Hypocrisy: “You snakes! How will you escape the sentence of hell?” (Matthew 23:33). The imagery exposes religious leaders whose deceit mirrors the serpent of Eden.
4. Miraculous Protection: “They will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them” (Mark 16:18). The sign underscores divine preservation that validates apostolic witness.

Apostolic Instruction

Paul twice invokes the serpent motif:
• “We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes” (1 Corinthians 10:9), recalling Israel’s wilderness rebellion to warn the church against presumption.
• “The serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Here the tempter’s method—subtle distortion—is set against the simplicity of devotion to Christ, alerting believers to doctrinal corruption.

Eschatological Imagery in Revelation

John’s visions employ ὄφις in climactic conflict language:
• The “great dragon … that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9) is cast out of heaven, affirming Christ’s cosmic victory.
• The serpent spews water to overwhelm the woman (12:15), but the earth aids her, displaying God’s sovereign protection.
• The beastlike horses have “tails like serpents” (9:19), signaling demonic torment.
• The final binding of “the serpent of old” for a thousand years (20:2) assures ultimate judgment and the restoration of Edenic peace.

Thematic Threads

1. Deception versus Truth: The serpent personifies lies; the gospel exposes and overcomes them.
2. Danger versus Deliverance: Encounters with literal or symbolic snakes highlight God’s saving power, whether through miraculous preservation (Luke 10:19) or eschatological triumph.
3. Wisdom versus Malice: Disciples may emulate the serpent’s shrewdness without sharing its venom, coupling prudence with purity.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Apologetics: Recognize the serpent’s stratagem—questioning God’s word—and respond with sound doctrine.
• Pastoral Care: Address fear of evil by pointing to Christ’s authority to “trample snakes and scorpions” (Luke 10:19).
• Missions: Balance strategic thinking with wholehearted integrity, embodying the “serpent-dove” tension.
• Spiritual Warfare: Frame intercession around Revelation’s promise that the serpent’s downfall is certain, fostering hope amid opposition.

Doctrinal Significance

The consistent portrayal of the serpent across Scripture reinforces the unity of the biblical storyline: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Jesus Christ, foreshadowed in the bronze serpent and revealed as the victorious Lamb, nullifies the serpent’s curse. Believers therefore engage the present age with confidence, vigilance, and the assurance that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

Forms and Transliterations

όφει οφεις οφείς όφεις ὄφεις οφεσιν όφεσιν ὄφεσιν οφεων όφεων ὄφεων οφεως όφεως ὄφεως οφιν όφιν ὄφιν οφις όφις ὄφις opheis ópheis opheon opheōn ópheon ópheōn opheos opheōs ópheos ópheōs ophesin óphesin ophin óphin ophis óphis

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 7:10 N-AMS
GRK: αἰτήσει μὴ ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ
NAS: he will not give him a snake, will he?
KJV: will he give him a serpent?
INT: he should ask not a serpent will he give him

Matthew 10:16 N-NMP
GRK: ὡς οἱ ὄφεις καὶ ἀκέραιοι
NAS: be shrewd as serpents and innocent
KJV: wise as serpents, and harmless
INT: as the serpents and innocent

Matthew 23:33 N-VMP
GRK: ὄφεις γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν
NAS: You serpents, you brood of vipers,
KJV: [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation
INT: [You] serpents offspring of vipers

Mark 16:18 N-AMP
GRK: ταῖς χερσὶν ὄφεις ἀροῦσιν κἂν
NAS: they will pick up serpents, and if
KJV: They shall take up serpents; and if
INT: their hands serpents they will take up and if

Luke 10:19 N-GMP
GRK: πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων
NAS: to tread on serpents and scorpions,
KJV: to tread on serpents and scorpions,
INT: to tread upon serpents and scorpions

Luke 11:11 N-AMS
GRK: ἀντὶ ἰχθύος ὄφιν αὐτῷ ἐπιδώσει
NAS: he will not give him a snake instead
KJV: give him a serpent?
INT: instead of a fish a serpent to him will he give

John 3:14 N-AMS
GRK: ὕψωσεν τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ
NAS: lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
KJV: lifted up the serpent in
INT: lifted up the serpent in the

1 Corinthians 10:9 N-GMP
GRK: ὑπὸ τῶν ὄφεων ἀπώλλυντο
NAS: and were destroyed by the serpents.
KJV: were destroyed of serpents.
INT: by the serpents perished

2 Corinthians 11:3 N-NMS
GRK: ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν
NAS: But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived
KJV: as the serpent beguiled
INT: as the serpent deceived Eve

Revelation 9:19 N-DMP
GRK: αὐτῶν ὅμοιαι ὄφεσιν ἔχουσαι κεφαλάς
NAS: are like serpents and have
KJV: [were] like unto serpents, and had
INT: of them [are] like serpents having heads

Revelation 12:9 N-NMS
GRK: μέγας ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος
NAS: was thrown down, the serpent of old
KJV: that old serpent, called
INT: great the serpent ancient

Revelation 12:14 N-GMS
GRK: προσώπου τοῦ ὄφεως
NAS: from the presence of the serpent.
KJV: from the face of the serpent.
INT: [the] face of the serpent

Revelation 12:15 N-NMS
GRK: ἔβαλεν ὁ ὄφις ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: And the serpent poured water
KJV: And the serpent cast out of
INT: cast the serpent out of the

Revelation 20:2 N-NMS
GRK: δράκοντα ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος
NAS: of the dragon, the serpent of old,
KJV: the dragon, that old serpent, which is
INT: dragon the serpent ancient

Strong's Greek 3789
14 Occurrences

ὄφεις — 3 Occ.
ὄφεων — 2 Occ.
ὄφεως — 1 Occ.
ὄφεσιν — 1 Occ.
ὄφιν — 3 Occ.
ὄφις — 4 Occ.