8207. shephiphon

Lexicon

shephiphon: Viper, serpent

Original Word: שְׁפִיפֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shphiyphon
Pronunciation: she-fee-fon
Phonetic Spelling: (shef-ee-fone')
Definition: Viper, serpent
Meaning: a kind of serpent, the cerastes, horned adder

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

adder

From an unused root meaning the same as shuwph; a kind of serpent (as snapping), probably the cerastes or horned adder -- adder.

see HEBREW shuwph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
horned viper
NASB Translation
horned snake (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שְׁפִיפֹן noun [masculine] horned snake, ᵐ5 κεράστης (Arabic , Frey); — absolute ׳שׁ Genesis 49:17 ("" נָחָשׁ); = cerastes cornutus or Hasselquistii, compare Tr^{NBB 273} Post^{Hast. DB iv. 457 f.} McLean-Shipley^{Ency. Bib. iv. 4393} Dr^{on the passage} — שְׁפוּפָם, שְׁפוּפָן see S. V.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to glide swiftly.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents in the Strong's Concordance for the Hebrew שְׁפִיפֹן, as it is a specific term used in the Hebrew Bible without a direct counterpart in the Greek New Testament. However, the general concept of serpents can be found in Greek entries such as Strong's Greek Number 3789 (ὄφις, ophis), which refers to a serpent or snake.

Usage: The term שְׁפִיפֹן appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe a particular type of serpent known for its swiftness and potentially dangerous nature.

Context: The Hebrew word שְׁפִיפֹן (shephiphon) is used in the Old Testament to refer to a specific type of serpent, often identified as the cerastes or horned adder. This serpent is noted for its distinctive horns and its ability to move swiftly and stealthily. The term appears in Genesis 49:17, where it is used metaphorically in Jacob's blessing over his son Dan: "Dan shall be a serpent by the road, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward." (BSB)

In this context, the shephiphon is emblematic of cunning and unexpected danger, reflecting the tribe of Dan's potential for strategic and surprising actions. The imagery of the serpent biting the horse's heels suggests a sudden and effective attack, characteristic of the cerastes' reputed behavior in the wild.

The cerastes, or horned adder, is a small but venomous snake found in the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa. Its ability to blend into its surroundings and strike with precision makes it a fitting symbol for the qualities attributed to the tribe of Dan in Jacob's prophecy.

Forms and Transliterations

שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן שפיפן šə·p̄î·p̄ōn šəp̄îp̄ōn shefiFon

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 49:17
HEB: עֲלֵי־ דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־ אֹ֑רַח
NAS: in the way, A horned snake in the path,
KJV: by the way, an adder in the path,
INT: in the way A horned in the path

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8207
1 Occurrence

šə·p̄î·p̄ōn — 1 Occ.