Definition: Viper, serpent
Meaning: a viperStrong's Exhaustive Concordance
adder, cockatrice From an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. Hissing) -- adder, cockatrice.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
צִפְעוֺנִי noun masculine id.; — absolute ׳צ Isaiah 11:8 ("" מָּ֑תֶן), ׳בֵּיצֵי צ Isaiah 59:5; כְּצִפְעֹנִי Proverbs 23:32 (simile; "" נָתָשׁ); plural צִפְעֹנִים Jeremiah 8:17 (app. נְחָשִׁים); identification dubious; TristrNHB 275 ('possibly') daboia xanthina, a venomous viper, but vipers do not lay eggs FurrerBi HWB 2, 1423; Furrer proposes ailurophis vivex. II. צפע (√ of following; compare Arabic 
cacavit, 
, Ethiopic 
excrement.).
Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to extrude or to hiss.Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G785 (ἀσπίς, aspis): This Greek term is used in the New Testament to refer to a type of serpent, often translated as "asp" or "viper." It carries similar connotations of danger and venom.
• G2289 (θανάσιμος, thanasimos): While not directly a term for a serpent, this Greek word means "deadly" or "fatal," often used in contexts describing the lethal nature of serpents or their bites.
The use of צֶפַע (tsephaʿ) in the Hebrew Bible serves as a powerful symbol of the hidden and often sudden nature of evil, as well as the divine judgment that follows. The viper's deadly bite is a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for vigilance against spiritual dangers.
Usage: The term צֶפַע (tsephaʿ) is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a specific type of venomous snake, often translated as "viper" in English. It is used metaphorically to describe danger, deceit, or malice.
Context: • The Hebrew word צֶפַע (tsephaʿ) appears in the Old Testament to denote a venomous serpent, specifically a viper. This term is used in contexts that emphasize the deadly and treacherous nature of these creatures. In the ancient Near East, vipers were well-known for their potent venom and were often feared by the people.
• In Isaiah 14:29 (BSB), the word is used in a prophetic context: "Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken, for from the root of the snake will spring up a viper, and its fruit will be a darting serpent." Here, the viper symbolizes a future threat or danger that arises unexpectedly.
• The imagery of the viper is also used to convey the idea of hidden danger or treachery, as vipers often strike without warning. This metaphorical use underscores the themes of judgment and the consequences of sin in the biblical narrative.
• The viper, as a symbol, is consistent with the broader biblical theme of serpents representing evil or opposition to God's will, as seen in other scriptural references.
Forms and Transliterations
וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥י וכצפעני צִפְעֹנִ֔ים צִפְעוֹנִ֔י צִפְעוֹנִי֙ צֶ֔פַע צפע צפעוני צפענים ṣe·p̄a‘ ṣep̄a‘ ṣip̄‘ōnîm ṣip̄‘ōwnî ṣip̄·‘ō·nîm ṣip̄·‘ō·w·nî Tzefa tzifoNi tzifoNim ū·ḵə·ṣip̄·‘ō·nî uchetzifoNi ūḵəṣip̄‘ōnîLinks
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