ἔχιδνα (echidna)
echidna
snake
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word echidna refers specifically to a viper or venomous snake. In the New Testament, it appears only five times, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, with one instance in Acts. The term carries a strong connotation of danger and deceit, reflecting the natural characteristics of this reptile.
Its most striking usage is as a metaphor for spiritual hostility. Jesus addresses religious leaders as "brood of vipers" (genēmata echidnōn) in Matthew 3:7, 12:34, and 23:33, as well as in Luke 3:7. This vivid imagery highlights their cunning and moral corruption, contrasting sharply with the call to repentance. The metaphor suggests that true wickedness is not merely external but stems from a corrupted inner nature.
The word’s etymology remains uncertain, yet its biblical application is clear. It serves as a powerful warning against hypocrisy and spiritual blindness. By using this term, Scripture emphasizes the seriousness of rejecting God’s message and the urgent need for genuine transformation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word echidna brings to mind a creature that moves with quiet precision, striking when least expected. In Scripture, Jesus uses this image not to describe an animal, but to name a spiritual condition. When He calls certain leaders a brood of vipers, He is pointing to a heart that looks righteous on the outside but hides poison within. This warning remains relevant today, reminding us that true faith requires honesty before God.
Yet the word also appears in Acts 28:3 during Paul’s journey. There, a viper bites him, yet he suffers no harm. This moment shows that God’s protection does not always remove danger, but it sustains us through it. We are invited to examine our own hearts for hidden deceit and to trust that God remains with us even in sudden trials.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of vipers,3×
- of vipers!1×
- a viper1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐχιδνῶν,4×
- ἔχιδνα1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
John the Baptist uses this term to challenge religious visitors, asking who warned them to escape divine judgment.
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Matthew 12:34
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Jesus links this identity directly to speech, showing that evil words flow from an inner state of corruption.
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Acts 28:3
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
The literal viper attaches to Paul’s hand, yet he shakes it off without injury, demonstrating God’s preservation in danger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does echidna mean in the Bible?
Why does Jesus call people vipers?
Is the viper in Acts 28:3 symbolic?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 3 books)
Matthew 3 verses
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers,…
Matthew 12:34You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth…
Matthew 23:33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?