עַכְשׁוּב
an asp (from lurking coiled up)
Definition
The Hebrew word עַכְשׁוּב (ʻakshûb) refers to a venomous snake, specifically an asp or viper. It is used in Psalm 140:3 to describe the wicked, whose tongues are sharpened like a serpent's, with the poison of an asp under their lips. This imagery emphasizes the deadly, deceptive speech of evildoers. The term likely denotes a snake known for its coiled, lurking posture and sudden, dangerous strike.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 140:3. It is used in a poetic, metaphorical context to depict the malicious speech of the psalmist's enemies. The asp serves as a vivid symbol for the lethal and hidden danger posed by slanderous or deceitful words.
Etymology
The word probably derives from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to coil' or 'to bend,' reflecting the snake's characteristic coiled posture when lying in wait. This etymological connection highlights the creature's lurking, ambush behavior.
Semantic Range
The word is theologically significant as it connects human sin—specifically deceitful and destructive speech—to a potent symbol of evil and death in the natural world. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Psalm 140 by revealing how the psalmist uses creation imagery to portray spiritual danger, emphasizing that wicked words are not merely hurtful but spiritually poisonous, requiring divine protection (Psalm 140:1, 4).
In the ancient Near Eastern context, asps or vipers were feared as deadly creatures whose venom could cause rapid death. Their coiled, hidden nature made them a proverbial symbol of treachery and unexpected danger. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor in Psalm 140:3 immediately powerful to the original audience.
פֶּתֶן (pethen, H6620) — another term for a venomous serpent, often a cobra or asp, also used metaphorically for wickedness (e.g., Psalm 58:4). צֶפַע (tsephaʻ, H6848) — a viper or horned snake, noted in prophetic warnings (e.g., Isaiah 14:29).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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