What does צֶפַע (ṣepaʿ) mean in the Bible?
צֶפַע (ṣepaʿ): Viper characterized by its hissing threat display—a serpent that signals danger through acoustic and visual aggression
Hebrew · H6848
צֶפַע
A viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing )
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צֶפַעH6848
Pronunciationṣepaʿ
What does צֶפַע (ṣepaʿ) mean in the Bible?
צֶפַע (ṣepaʿ): Viper characterized by its hissing threat display—a serpent that signals danger through acoustic and visual aggression
Full entry for צֶפַע (H6848) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6848?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a viper (1), like a viper (1), of vipers (1), the viper’s (1), vipers (1).
Where does צֶפַע (ṣepaʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Proverbs 23:32. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (3), Jeremiah (1), Proverbs (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita viper1×Isaiah 14:29
like a viper1×Proverbs 23:32
of vipers1×Isaiah 59:5
the viper’s1×Isaiah 11:8
vipers1×Jeremiah 8:17
Show sample aligned rows
Proverbs 23:32וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥יtolike a viperConjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularIsaiah 11:8צִפְעוֹנִ֔יtothe viper’sNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 14:29צֶ֔פַעtoa viperNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 59:5צִפְעוֹנִי֙toof vipersNoun - masculine singularJeremiah 8:17צִפְעֹנִ֔יםtovipersNoun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowProverbs 23:32
Aligned rows5
Books represented3
Proverbs1Isaiah3Jeremiah1
Source forms
וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥י1xū·ḵə·ṣip̄·‘ō·nîProverbs 23:32
צֶ֔פַע1xṣe·p̄a‘Isaiah 14:29
צִפְעוֹנִ֔י1xṣip̄·‘ō·w·nîIsaiah 11:8
צִפְעוֹנִי֙1xṣip̄·‘ō·w·nîIsaiah 59:5
צִפְעֹנִ֔ים1xṣip̄·‘ō·nîmJeremiah 8:17
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular3xIsaiah 11:8, Isaiah 14:29, Isaiah 59:5
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular1xProverbs 23:32
Noun - masculine plural1xJeremiah 8:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Viper characterized by its hissing threat display—a serpent that signals danger through acoustic and visual aggression
Source Gloss
a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Viper characterized by its hissing threat display—a serpent that signals danger through acoustic and visual aggression
a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing) BDB: serpent Usage: adder, cockatrice.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Viper used metaphorically to describe the harmful effects of wine and drunkenness
Showing 1 selected witness from 5 lexical occurrence verses.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.