Viper

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

אפעה ,  Job 20:16;  Isaiah 30:6;  Isaiah 59:5; εχιδνα ,  Matthew 3:7;  Matthew 12:34;  Matthew 23:33;  Luke 3:7;  Acts 28:3; a serpent famed for the venomousness of its bite, which is one of the most dangerous poisons in the animal kingdom. So remarkable, says Dr. Mead, has the viper been for its venom, that the remotest antiquity made it an emblem of what is hurtful and destructive. Nay, so terrible was the nature of these creatures, that they were very commonly thought to be sent as executioners of divine vengeance upon mankind, for enormous crimes which had escaped the course of justice. An instance of such an opinion as this we have in the history of St. Paul, Acts xxviii, whom the people of Melita, when they saw the viper leap upon his hand, presently concluded to be a murderer; and as readily made a god of him when, instead of having his hand inflamed, or falling down dead, one or other of which is usually the effect of these bites, he without any harm shook the reptile into the fire: it being obvious enough to imagine that he must stand in a near relation at least to the gods themselves, who could thus command the messengers of their vengeance, and counterwork the effects of such powerful agents.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A genus of serpents noted for the virulence of their poison, which is said to be one of the most dangerous in the animal kingdom. Hence the viper is a symbol of whatever is most evil and destructive,  Job 20:16   Isaiah 30:6 . As such the term was applied by Christ and by John to certain classes of the Jews,  Matthew 3:7   12:34   23:33   Luke 3:7 . Paul's escape from the bite of a viper in Malta led the people to believe that he was a god in human form,  Acts 28:3 . A species of viper in Northern Africa, though little more than a foot long is called the most formidable serpent there; and Hasselquist speaks of a viper in Cyprus, whose bits produces a universal gangrene, and occasions death within a few hours. See Serpents .

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἔχιδνα (Strong'S #2191 — Noun Feminine — echidna — ekh'-id-nah )

is probably a generic term for "poisonous snakes." It is rendered "viper" in the NT, (a) of the actual creature,  Acts 28:3; (b) metaphorically in  Matthew 3:7;  12:34;  23:33;  Luke 3:7 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

epheh, ἔχιδνα. All we learn from the passages that speak of the viper is that its bite was poisonous: "the viper's tongue shall slay him." When one fixed on Paul's hand they expected that he would drop down dead. What species of serpent is alluded to is unknown. It is only otherwise referred to in the N.T. as symbolical of evil ones. John the Baptist called the multitude who came to be baptised 'a brood of vipers,' and the Lord applies the same term to the scribes and Pharisees, showing the deadly character of their opposition.  Job 20:16;  Isaiah 30:6;  Isaiah 59:5;  Matthew 3:7;  Matthew 12:34;  Matthew 23:33;  Luke 3:7;  Acts 28:3 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Viper. This word in the Old Testament possibly designates some particular species of hissing and venomous serpent, but its exact application cannot be determined. In the New Testament the Greek word thus rendered was used for any poisonous snake. The viper which fastened on Paul's hand, = Acts 28:16, was doubtless the snake of that name, Vipcra Aspis, still common in the Mediterranean islands. It has now disappeared from Malta with the woods to which it is partial. The viper is an emblem of whatever is deceitful and destructive.  Matthew 3:7;  Matthew 12:34;  Matthew 23:33;  Luke 3:7.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Isaiah 59:5 (b) This indicates the product of the works and the plans of wicked Israel in producing evil and harmful results.

 Matthew 3:7 (a) This type represents wicked teachers whose messages from their mouths poison those who hear them so that they are eternally lost. Not all snakes are vipers. Vipers are snakes which kill with the poison from their fangs, such as the cobra and the rattlesnake. Vipers are a type of false teachers of false cults, who damage and destroy the souls of all who believe their teachings. (See also  Matthew 23:33;  Luke 3:7).

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The Hebrews called the viper Peten, Ephee. It is frequently spoken of in Scripture, and not unfrequently in allusion to the great enemy of souls. ( Job 20:16;  Isaiah 30:6) And the Lord Jesus in the gospel called the children of the evil one a generation of vipers. ( Matthew 12:34; Mat 23:33)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Job 20:16 Isaiah 30:6 59:5 Echidne   Matthew 3:7 12:34 23:33 Acts 28:3Adder

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(See Adder ; Serpent Εpheh ( Isaiah 59:5); viviparous, as the derivation of viper implies. Symbol of hypocrisy and malignity ( Matthew 3:7;  Matthew 12:34;  Matthew 23:33).

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( a.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous makes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and other genera of the family Viperidae.

(2): ( a.) A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.

King James Dictionary

VI'PER, n. L. vipera.

1. A serpent, a species of coluber, whose bite is remarkably venomous.

A viper came out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.  Acts 29 .

2. A person or thing mischievous or malignant.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Viper. See Serpent .

Holman Bible Dictionary

Echis Colorata  Matthew 3:7 Acts 28:3

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Viper —See Animals in vol. i. p. 66b.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

VIPER . See Serpent.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

vı̄´pẽr ( אפעה , 'eph‛eh (  Job 20:16;  Isaiah 30:6;  Isaiah 59:5 ); ἄχιδνα , échidna ( Matthew 3:7 =   Luke 3:7;  Matthew 12:34;  Matthew 23:33;  Acts 28:3 )): Several vipers are found in Palestine, but it is not certain that 'eph‛eh referred definitely to any of them. See Serpent .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Viper'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/v/viper.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

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