קִפּוֹז
spring forward; an arrow-snake (as darting on its prey)
Definition
The Hebrew word קִפּוֹז (qippôwz) refers to a specific type of serpent or snake, characterized by its swift, darting motion as it springs forward to strike its prey. It is often understood as an 'arrow-snake' due to this rapid, projectile-like movement. The term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 34:15, within a list of creatures inhabiting the desolate ruins of Edom. While the KJV translates it as 'great owl,' most modern lexicons and translations favor a serpentine creature based on the word's etymology and context among other desert animals.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 34:15. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Edom, describing how the land will become a perpetual wilderness. The qippôz is listed among other creatures—like the owl, raven, and hawk—that will find a home in the desolation. Its singular usage places it in a context of divine judgment and ecological transformation.
Etymology
The noun קִפּוֹז (qippôz) is derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to contract' or 'to draw together,' likely describing the coiling motion of a snake before it strikes. This root sense emphasizes the creature's sudden, springing action. Cognates in other Semitic languages also point to meanings associated with leaping or darting.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a specific animal term, its theological significance lies entirely in its context in Isaiah 34. This chapter details God's ultimate judgment on the nations, using the imagery of Edom's transformation into a chaotic, animal-inhabited wasteland as a symbol of divine wrath and the overturning of human order. Understanding qippôz as a swift, dangerous serpent enriches the imagery of a land reclaimed by wild, untamed creatures, underscoring the completeness of the desolation that follows judgment.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, serpents were often symbols of danger, chaos, and the untamed wilderness. The description of the qippôz 'making its nest' and 'laying eggs' in the ruins (Isaiah 34:15) would have vividly conveyed to an Israelite audience a picture of a once-powerful civilization (Edom) being utterly abandoned to the forces of nature and disorder. The KJV's 'great owl' translation reflects a later interpretive tradition, but the original likely pointed to a snake known for its rapid strike.
שָׂרָף (śārāp̱, H8314) — a 'fiery serpent,' often venomous, used in contexts of punishment and danger. נָחָשׁ (nāḥāš, H5175) — the general Hebrew word for 'serpent' or 'snake,' used in a wide range of narratives and symbolic contexts.
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.
Full methodology & sources →