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Viper
Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.
Describes a variety of venomous snakes. The term usually is used in a non-literal or poetic sense in the Bible (e.g., Job 20:16; Isa 59:5; Matt 3:7; 23:33). However, Acts 28:3 uses the same Greek word in a literal sense to describe Paul’s encounter with a venomous serpent.
Lexham Bible Dictionary
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The Lexham Bible Dictionary
Viper
Viper (אֶפְעֶה‎, eph'eh; ἔχιδνα, echidna). Describes a variety of venomous snakes. The term usually is used in a non-literal or poetic sense in the Bible (e.g., Job 20:16; Isa 59:5; Matt 3:7; 23:33). However, Acts 28:3 uses the same Greek word in a literal sense to describe Paul’s encounter with a venomous
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Viper
Viper [Heb. ʾep̱ʿeh (Job 20:16; Isa. 30:6; 59:5), šep̱îp̱ôn—‘horned snake’ (?) (Gen. 49:17), ʿaḵšûḇ (Ps. 140:3 [MT 4]); Gk. échidna (Mt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33; Lk. 3:7; Acts 28:3)]; AV also ADDER (Gen. 49:17; Ps. 140:3); NEB also SAND-VIPER (Isa. 30:6), HORNED SNAKE (Gen. 49:17), SPIDER (Ps. 140:3),
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
Viper
viper, a genus of snakes prevalent in the ancient world, some of which were poisonous and some not. Because the bite of the poisonous viper could be fatal, people naturally wanted to avoid any contact with any type of snake. Consequently, the term “viper” came to be used figuratively as a designation
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Viper
ViperAmong the approximately 35 species of snakes in Israel, seven are venomous and can inflict a fatal bite. Six of these venomous snakes are vipers: the Palestinian viper, Burton’s carpet viper, Field’s horned viper, the lesser cerastes viper, the greater cerastes viper, and the Engedi mole viper.
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Viper
Viper (Heb. ˒ep̱˓eh “hiss”; Gk. échidna), Any of a variety of species of snakes (family Viperidae), usually poisonous. It is difficult to identify the biblical references to viper with any particular species.Because dread of snakes is a widespread phenomenon, it is not surprising that in biblical
Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible
Viper
VIPER אפעהI. The viper (ʾepʿeh) occurs three times in the Hebrew Bible, always in poetic contexts to describe negative environments or sensations. Third-millennium texts from Mesopotamia attest to the veneration of a god Ibaʾum, etymologically related to Heb ʾepʿeh.II. A third-millennium Akkadian seal
Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Viper
Viper—In Job 20:16, Isa. 30:6; 59:5, the Heb. word eph’eh is thus rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species of poisonous serpents known by the Arabic name of ‘el ephah. Tristram has identified it with the sand viper, a species of small size common in sandy regions, and frequently
Harper’s Bible Dictionary
Viper
Viperviper, a genus of snakes prevalent in the ancient world, some of which were poisonous and some not. Because the bite of the poisonous viper could be fatal, people naturally wanted to avoid any contact with any type. Consequently, the term viper came to be used figuratively as a designation for
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
VIPER
VIPER<vi’-per> (אֶפְעֶה‎ [’eph̀eh] (Job 20:16; Isa 30:6; 59:5); [ἔχιδνα, echidna] (Mt 3:7 = Lk 3:7; Mt 12:34; 23:33; Acts 28:3)): Several vipers are found in Palestine, but it is not certain that [’eph̀eh] referred definitely to any of them.See SERPENT.
Compton’s Encyclopedia
Viper
Viperany poisonous snake belonging to the family Viperidae. Vipers are characterized by a pair of long, sharp fangs, each with a hollow center. The fangs, which are attached to the front of movable upper jaw structures called maxillae, lie folded back against the roof of the mouth until the snake swings
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Viper
VIPER Poisonous snake. Several species of snakes are called vipers, and the various words used in the Bible for them probably do not designate specific types. Some scholars take the OT references to refer to the Echis colorata. Jesus spoke of the wicked religious leaders as vipers (Matt. 3:7) because
The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 5, Q–Z
Viper
viper. This English term, like adder, is applied generally to any of a family of venomous snakes (Viperidae, though it often refers specifically to Vipera berus), and the biblical texts do not provide sufficient information to identify particular species with certainty. The NIV uses the word to render
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Topics & Themes
Snake
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