6848. tsepha'

Strong's Lexicon

tsepha': Viper, serpent

Original Word: צֶפַע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tsepha`
Pronunciation: tseh-fah'
Phonetic Spelling: (tseh'-fah; or tsiphDefinition: Viper, serpent
Meaning: a viper

Word Origin: From an unused root meaning to extrude

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2191 (ἔχιδνα, echidna) - Often translated as "viper" in the New Testament, used in passages like Matthew 3:7 and Acts 28:3.

Usage: The Hebrew word "tsepha'" refers to a type of venomous snake, often translated as "viper" or "serpent" in English. It is used in the Bible to describe a dangerous and deadly creature, symbolizing treachery, danger, and the consequences of sin.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, snakes were often seen as symbols of both danger and healing. The viper, in particular, was feared for its venomous bite, which could be fatal. In the biblical context, serpents are frequently associated with deception and evil, most notably in the account of the Fall in Genesis. The imagery of a viper would have been a powerful symbol of hidden danger and the need for vigilance.

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; Tristr^{NHB 275} ('possibly') daboia xanthina, a venomous viper, but vipers do not lay eggs Furrer^{Bi HWB 2, 1423}; Furrer proposes ailurophis vivex.

II. צפע (√ of following; compare Arabic cacavit, , Ethiopic excrement.).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

adder, cockatrice

From an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. Hissing) -- adder, cockatrice.

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‘ōnî

Englishman's Concordance

Proverbs 23:32
HEB: כְּנָחָ֣שׁ יִשָּׁ֑ךְ וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥י יַפְרִֽשׁ׃
NAS: And stings like a viper.
KJV: and stingeth like an adder.
INT: A serpent bites A viper and stings

Isaiah 11:8
HEB: וְעַל֙ מְאוּרַ֣ת צִפְעוֹנִ֔י גָּמ֖וּל יָד֥וֹ
NAS: his hand on the viper's den.
KJV: his hand on the cockatrice' den.
INT: and den the viper's and the weaned his hand

Isaiah 14:29
HEB: נָחָשׁ֙ יֵ֣צֵא צֶ֔פַע וּפִרְי֖וֹ שָׂרָ֥ף
NAS: root a viper will come
KJV: shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit
INT: the serpent's will come A viper fruit serpent

Isaiah 59:5
HEB: בֵּיצֵ֤י צִפְעוֹנִי֙ בִּקֵּ֔עוּ וְקוּרֵ֥י
NAS: They hatch adders' eggs and weave
KJV: They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave
INT: eggs adders' hatch web

Jeremiah 8:17
HEB: בָּכֶ֗ם נְחָשִׁים֙ צִפְעֹנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־
NAS: serpents against you, Adders, for which
KJV: serpents, cockatrices, among you, which [will] not [be] charmed,
INT: I am sending serpents Adders which there

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6848
5 Occurrences

ṣe·p̄a‘ — 1 Occ.
ṣip̄·‘ō·w·nî — 2 Occ.
ṣip̄·‘ō·nîm — 1 Occ.
ū·ḵə·ṣip̄·‘ō·nî — 1 Occ.