In Job 20:16 , Isaiah 30:6 ; 59:5 , the Heb. word eph'eh is thus rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species of poisonous serpents known by the Arabic name of 'el ephah. Tristram has identified it with the sand viper, a species of small size common in sandy regions, and frequently found under stones by the shores of the Dead Sea. It is rapid in its movements, and highly poisonous. In the New Testament echidne is used ( Matthew 3:7 ; 12:34 ; 23:33 ) for any poisonous snake. The viper mentioned in Acts 28:3 was probably the vipera aspis, or the Mediterranean viper. (See ADDER .)
Snake.But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism he said unto them, O generation of VIPERS, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ( Matthew 3:7 )
VIPER
vi'-per ('eph`eh (Job 20:16; Isaiah 30:6; 59:5); echidna (Matthew 3:7 = Luke 3:7; Matthew 12:34; 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.
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