אֶפְעֶה
𐤀𐤐𐤏𐤄
ʼephʻeh
H660 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A venomous serpent, specifically an asp or viper; denotes a poisonous snake, likely characterized by its hissing sound and dangerous bite. The term is used to refer to actual snakes as well as, metaphorically, to agents of danger or malice within poetic or prophetic literature.
Semantic Range
venomous serpent, asp, viper, poisonous snake, metaphor for malice or danger
Root / Etymology
From the root אפע, which is related to the verb עפע to hiss; the noun derived likely referencing a hissing serpent. Root meaning ('to hiss') is associated with the sound made by serpents, leading to the noun's denotation of a snake known for its threat and hiss.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word appears chiefly in poetic and prophetic contexts, referring to a dangerous, poisonous snake, probably an asp or viper native to the ancient Near East. In Isaiah (e.g., Isa 30:6; 59:5), אֶפְעֶה appears in lists of ominous or noxious snakes, often metaphorically representing deadly threats or wicked individuals. Israelites, familiar with various venomous snakes in the region, would have recognized the specific threat posed by the asp or viper implied by this term. Later translations, especially in English, sometimes narrow the word's scope to 'asp' or 'adder,' but these may not capture the full range of serpents indicated. The term is distinct from נָחָשׁ (nachash, generic 'snake/serpent') and פֶּתֶן (peten, 'cobra' or 'adder'), indicating that אֶפְעֶה refers to a specific kind marked by lethal venom and the hissing sound.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אֵפַע (in the sense of hissing); an asp or other venomous serpent; viper.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אפע (ʾ-p-ʿ) — to hiss, emit a sharp sound
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H659 | אֵפַע | mere nothingness |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H660-01 |
אֶפְעֶה֙ | efeeh | HNcmsa |
a viper | hissing viper | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H660-01 |
Isaiah 30:6 | אֶפְעֶה֙ | efeeh | HNcmsa |
viper | hissing viper |
H660-01 |
Isaiah 59:5 | אֶפְעֶֽה | efeeh | HNcmsa |
a viper | hissing viper |
H660-01 |
Job 20:16 | אֶפְעֶֽה | efeeh | HNcmsa |
of a viper | hissing viper |