In the Bible, the concept of "poisonous" is often used metaphorically to describe the harmful and destructive nature of sin, false teachings, and evil influences. The imagery of poison is employed to convey the insidious and corrupting effects these elements can have on individuals and communities.

Old Testament References

1. Deuteronomy 32:33 · In the Song of Moses, the Israelites are warned about the consequences of turning away from God. The text states, "Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras." Here, the poison symbolizes the destructive nature of idolatry and rebellion against God.

2. Job 20:16 · Zophar, one of Job's friends, describes the fate of the wicked: "He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him." This passage uses the imagery of poison to illustrate the inevitable downfall and judgment that befalls those who live in wickedness.

3. Psalm 58:4 · The psalmist compares the wicked to venomous snakes: "Their venom is like the poison of a serpent, like a cobra that shuts its ears." This metaphor highlights the deceitful and harmful nature of the wicked, who refuse to listen to wisdom and truth.

New Testament References

1. James 3:8 · The apostle James warns about the dangers of the tongue, stating, "But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." Here, the tongue's potential to cause harm and spread falsehoods is likened to poison, emphasizing the need for self-control and godly speech.

2. Romans 3:13 · In describing the sinful nature of humanity, Paul writes, "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips." This passage underscores the corrupting influence of sin, which manifests in deceitful and harmful speech.

Symbolism and Themes

The use of poison as a metaphor in the Bible serves to illustrate the pervasive and destructive nature of sin and evil. Just as physical poison can lead to death, spiritual poison can lead to spiritual death and separation from God. The imagery of venomous snakes and deadly poison is often associated with deceit, false teachings, and moral corruption.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The biblical warnings about poisonous influences call believers to vigilance and discernment. Christians are encouraged to guard their hearts and minds against the corrupting effects of sin and to seek the truth found in God's Word. The metaphor of poison serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of straying from God's path and the importance of living a life rooted in righteousness and truth.

Practical Application

Believers are urged to be cautious of the influences they allow into their lives, whether through media, relationships, or teachings. The call to avoid what is spiritually poisonous is a call to pursue holiness and to cultivate a life that reflects the character of Christ. By relying on the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Scripture, Christians can resist the toxic influences of the world and remain steadfast in their faith.(a.) Having the qualities or effects of poison; venomous; baneful; corrupting; noxious.2191. echidna -- a viper
... snake, viper. 2191 -- properly, a poisonous snake; (figuratively) incisive
words that deliver , with the use of blasphemy. This ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2191.htm - 6k

2286. thanasimos -- deadly
... Word Origin from thanatos Definition deadly NASB Word Usage deadly (1). deadly.
From thanatos; fatal, ie Poisonous -- deadly. see GREEK thanatos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2286.htm - 6k

5594. psucho -- to breathe, blow, to make cool
... with cool air" (Zod, ); (figuratively) "to breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold,
'spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous wind' " (M ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5594.htm - 7k

7219. rosh -- (bitter and poisonous herb) venom
... 7218, 7219. rosh or rosh. 7220 . (bitter and poisonous herb) venom.
Transliteration: rosh or rosh Phonetic Spelling: (roshe) Short Definition: poison. ...
/hebrew/7219.htm - 6k

8314. saraph -- fiery serpent
... From saraph; burning, ie (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); specifically, a saraph
or symbolical creature (from their copper color) -- fiery (serpent), seraph ...
/hebrew/8314.htm - 5k

4815. meriri -- bitter
... Word Origin from marar Definition bitter NASB Word Usage bitter (1). bitter. From
marar; bitter, ie Poisonous -- bitter. see HEBREW marar. 4814, 4815. ...
/hebrew/4815.htm - 6k

3939. laanah -- wormwood
... hemlock, wormwood. From an unused root supposed to mean to curse; wormwood (regarded
as poisonous, and therefore accursed) -- hemlock, wormwood. 3938, 3939. ...
/hebrew/3939.htm - 6k

When Herod Made Inquiry About Pheroras's Death a Discovery was ...
... CHAPTER 30. When Herod Made Inquiry About Pheroras's Death A Discovery Was
Made That Antipater Had Prepared A Poisonous Draught For Him. ...
/.../chapter 30 when herod made.htm

Rufinus's Epilogue to Pamphilus the Martyr's Apology for Origen
... made it his object to falsify the words of God and twist them from their true meaning,
and subtilely to interpolate among them his own poisonous ideas, so he ...
/.../rufinuss epilogue to pamphilus the.htm

Our Death.
... Left unburied in a house, the poisonous gases of dissolution breed malignant
fevers and cause death to the inhabitants and the community. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi our death.htm

Everything that is Useless or Hurtful is Rejected.
... into contact with a stronger power, but easily destroys that which is overcome by
it, and is converted into hurtful humours and poisonous qualities, because ...
/.../chapter vi everything that is useless.htm

Suffocated Trees
... they have become discouraged and wilted, and if you and I could dig down into their
lives we should probably find something like that poisonous gas which has ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/suffocated trees.htm

Back to Eden.
... vegetation. Before the healing light and heat the poisonous growth, the
blight of drought and of untempered heat disappear. There ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/back to eden.htm

The Little Chamber on the Wall.
... God gave him. He changed the waters of Jericho, so that they were no longer
poisonous, by casting salt in the spring. He brought ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxviii the little chamber.htm

Of the Death of the Martyrs Considered as a Sacrifice, and in what ...
... He who destroys a poisonous animal, or lulls it to sleep with charms, or by any
means deprives it of its venom, he does good to many who would otherwise have ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/36 of the death of.htm

Evil is not a Substance, but a Disagreement Hostile to Substance.
... But because disagreement is an evil, what she did was to make the poisonous
matter agree with her own body by a process of habituation. ...
/.../chapter 8 name is not.htm

A Farther Quotation from virgilius Maro Respecting Christ, with ...
... The serpent's brood shall die; the sacred ground. Shall weeds and poisonous plants
refuse to bear; ... Truly, then, the poisonous race may be said to be extinct. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xx a farther quotation from.htm

Poisonous (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Poisonous (8 Occurrences). Matthew 7:17 Just so every
good tree produces good fruit, but a poisonous tree produces bad fruit. (WEY). ...
/p/poisonous.htm - 9k

Poison (17 Occurrences)
... (2.) Hebrews rosh, "a head," a poisonous plant (Deuteronomy 29:18 ...Poisonous waters
are referred to at Marah (Exodus 15:23) and Jericho (2 Kings 2:19). ...
/p/poison.htm - 17k

Asp (3 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews pethen), Deuteronomy 32:33; Job 20:14, 16; Isaiah 11:8. It was probably
the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), which was very poisonous (Romans 3:13; Gr. ...
/a/asp.htm - 9k

Adder (9 Occurrences)
... used for several Hebrew originals. In each case a poisonous serpent is
clearly indicated by the context. It is impossible to tell ...
/a/adder.htm - 11k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... The poisonous character of the serpent is alluded to in Jacob's blessing on Dan
(Genesis 49:17; see Proverbs 30:18, 19; James 3:7; Jeremiah 8:17). (see ADDER.). ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Viper (8 Occurrences)
... rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species of poisonous
serpents known by the Arabic name of `el ephah. Tristram ...
/v/viper.htm - 10k

Gourd (4 Occurrences)
... (2.) Wild gourds (2 Kings 4:38-40), Hebrews pakkuoth, belong to the family
of the cucumber-like plants, some of which are poisonous. ...
/g/gourd.htm - 12k

Gall (17 Occurrences)
... In Hosea 10:4 the Hebrew word is rendered "hemlock." The original probably denotes
some bitter, poisonous plant, most probably the poppy, which grows up quickly ...
/g/gall.htm - 17k

Lizard (3 Occurrences)
... Although perfectly harmless, it is believed to be poisonous, and is much
feared. It is called abu-brais, "father of leprosy," either ...
/l/lizard.htm - 16k

Grant (87 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:33 "Either grant the tree to be wholesome and its fruit wholesome, or
the tree poisonous and its fruit poisonous; for the tree is known by its fruit ...
/g/grant.htm - 31k

What is a root of bitterness? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about toxic relationships? | GotQuestions.org

Why did John the Baptist refer to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers? | GotQuestions.org

Poisonous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus