אֶפְעֶה (eph.eh)
eph.eh
viper
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun eph‘eh refers to a venomous snake, specifically identifying it as a viper. With only three occurrences in the Old Testament, this word appears in contexts that emphasize danger and hidden threat. Its primary sense is literal, describing a reptile capable of inflicting serious harm through its bite.
The sources indicate that eph‘eh is most frequently associated with the book of Isaiah, where it likely serves as a metaphor for enemies who are deceptive or deadly. In Job, the term appears in poetic descriptions of chaos and peril, reinforcing the image of a creature that strikes without warning. This usage highlights the animal’s reputation for stealth and lethality.
Translators typically render eph‘eh as "viper" to preserve the specific nature of the threat. Unlike general terms for snakes, this word carries a connotation of particular danger, making it an effective choice for illustrating spiritual or physical peril in prophetic and wisdom literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eph‘eh identifies a viper, a snake known for its stealth and lethal bite. In Scripture, this creature often symbolizes hidden dangers or deceptive enemies who strike without warning. When Isaiah describes a land filled with vipers, he paints a picture of a world where trust is fragile and threats lurk in the shadows. This imagery reminds us that not all peril is visible; some challenges come quietly, catching us off guard.
For your faith life, this word invites vigilance. It encourages you to discern between genuine peace and false security. Just as a viper’s presence changes the atmosphere of a place, so too can hidden sin or unaddressed conflict disrupt your spiritual well-being. Recognising these dangers allows you to seek God’s protection and wisdom before harm takes root.
Ultimately, the Bible uses such vivid language to drive us toward reliance on God rather than our own strength. When life feels fraught with unseen threats, remember that God sees what others miss. He offers clarity in confusion and safety in chaos. You are never alone in navigating these hidden paths; His presence turns even the most perilous terrain into a place of encounter.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- viper1×
- a viper1×
- a snake1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶפְעֶֽה\׃2×
- אֶפְעֶה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 30:6
The burden of the animals of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, of the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to an unprofitable people.
This verse uses 'viper' alongside other dangerous animals to depict the hostility and spiritual barrenness of relying on foreign alliances instead of God.
-
Isaiah 59:5
They hatch adders’ eggs and weave the spider’s web. He who eats of their eggs dies; and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.
Here, hatching viper eggs symbolises how sinful actions produce deadly consequences that emerge unexpectedly from within one's own plans.
-
Job 20:16
He will suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue will kill him.
In Job’s dialogue, the viper’s tongue represents the sudden and fatal reversal of fortune that awaits the wicked, emphasizing the inevitability of divine justice.