אֶפְעֶה
an asp or other venomous serpent
Definition
אֶפְעֶה refers to a venomous serpent, specifically an asp or viper, known for its deadly bite. In Job 20:16, it symbolizes the hidden, poisonous consequences of wickedness that ultimately destroy the wicked person. Isaiah 30:6 uses it to describe the dangers of the journey to Egypt, portraying the land as filled with lethal threats. In Isaiah 59:5, the word illustrates the corrupt actions of sinners, who hatch evil like a viper's eggs, producing harm and injustice.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only three times in the Old Testament, all in poetic or prophetic contexts. It is used metaphorically to depict danger, corruption, and the fatal results of sin. In Job 20:16, it illustrates the internal ruin of the wicked; in Isaiah 30:6, it represents physical peril in a foreign land; and in Isaiah 59:5, it symbolizes the production of evil deeds. Each usage emphasizes the serpent's lethal and deceptive nature.
Etymology
Derived from the root אָפַע (H659), which conveys the sense of hissing or breathing out, likely referring to the sound a serpent makes. This connection highlights the audible warning of the creature before it strikes. The noun form specifically denotes a type of hissing, venomous snake, linking its name directly to its characteristic sound and dangerous behavior.
Semantic Range
אֶפְעֶה carries theological weight as a symbol of sin's deadly and deceptive nature. In Job 20:16 and Isaiah 59:5, it illustrates how evil acts, like a viper's venom, corrupt and destroy from within. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by revealing the vivid imagery the biblical authors used to warn against moral and spiritual danger, emphasizing God's view of sin as inherently destructive.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, vipers or asps were feared as stealthy, lethal creatures often associated with chaos and evil. Unlike modern scientific classifications, biblical references grouped venomous snakes broadly, using אֶפְעֶה to evoke immediate recognition of a hidden threat. This cultural understanding amplifies the metaphorical impact in passages warning against sin or peril.
פֶּתֶן (pethen, H6620) — another term for a venomous serpent, often translated as 'asp' or 'adder', used in poetic contexts like Psalm 58:4. שָׂרָף (saraph, H8314) — a 'fiery serpent', emphasizing burning pain from a bite, as in Numbers 21:6. נָחָשׁ (nachash, H5175) — the general Hebrew word for 'serpent' or 'snake', which can be non-venomous or symbolic, as in Genesis 3:1.
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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