Viper - American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A genus of serpents noted for the virulence of their poison, which is said to be one of the most dangerous in the animal kingdom. Hence the viper is a symbol of whatever is most evil and destructive, . As such the term was applied by Christ and by John to certain classes of the Jews, 12:34 23:33 . Paul's escape from the bite of a viper in Malta led the people to believe that he was a god in human form, . A species of viper in Northern Africa, though little more than a foot long is called the most formidable serpent there; and Hasselquist speaks of a viper in Cyprus, whose bits produces a universal gangrene, and occasions death within a few hours. See SERPENTS.\par

Viper - Apostolic Church, Dictionary - James Hastings

(ἔχιδνα)

Apart from the Gospels, the only passage in the NT in which reference is made to the viper is in . The viper mentioned here is probably the Vipera aspis, which is fairly common on most of the larger islands in the Mediterranean, but is no longer found in Malta. The last-named fact has been urged as an objection to the story, but that argument is singularly invalid. Wolves were found in England centuries after this viper at Malta, but they are extinct to-day, and it would be still more remarkable if poisonous vipers had managed to survive in Malta after so many centuries (cf. R. B. Rackham, The Acts of the Apostles, London, 1901, p. 492). On the other hand, the suggestion that the viper in question is rather to be identified with one of the non-poisonous species which are still found in the island is discountenanced by the whole context. It is manifest that the writer regards the incident as an extraordinary preservation from imminent danger (cf. ). The Vipera aspis is very partial to wood, and it is significant that the viper in came out of the firewood. The aboriginal forest has been cleared in Malta, and accordingly the disappearance of these venomous reptiles which infested the woods is merely what one would expect. See, further, Serpent, Asp.

Literature.-H. B. Tristram, Survey of Western Palestine, London, 1884, p. 140 ff., Natural History of the Bible10, do., 1911, p. 276 f.; Hastings’ Single-vol. Dictionary of the Bible , p. 837; Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) iv. 460.

P. S. P. Handcock.

Viper - David Cox - Plants Animals Of Bible

See Snake

Viper - DBT - Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

Isa 59:5 (b) This indicates the product of the works and the plans of wicked Israel in producing evil and harmful results.

Mat 3:7 (a) This type represents wicked teachers whose messages from their mouths poison those who hear them so that they are eternally lost. Not all snakes are vipers. Vipers are snakes which kill with the poison from their fangs, such as the cobra and the rattlesnake. Vipers are a type of false teachers of false cults, who damage and destroy the souls of all who believe their teachings. (See also Mat 23:33; Luk 3:7).

Viper - Faussets Bible Dictionary

(See ADDER; SERPENT.) Epheh (Isa 59:5); viviparous, as the derivation of viper implies. Symbol of hypocrisy and malignity (Mat 3:7; Mat 12:34; Mat 23:33).

Viper - Hawker Poor Man Commentary Dictionary

The Hebrews called the viper Peten, Ephee. It is frequently spoken of in Scripture, and not unfrequently in allusion to the great enemy of souls. (Job xx. 16. Isa. xxx. 6.) And the Lord Jesus in the gospel called the children of the evil one a generation of vipers. (Matt. x2: 34; 23. 33.)

Viper - King James Dictionary

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? ()

Viper - Kitto, John - Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature

[SERPENT]

Viper - Smiths Bible Dictionary

Viper. See Serpent.

Viper - The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The Hebrews called the viper Peten, Ephee. It is frequently spoken of in Scripture, and not unfrequently in allusion to the great enemy of souls. (Job 20:16; Isa 30:6) And the Lord Jesus in the gospel called the children of the evil one a generation of vipers. (Mat 12:34; Mat 23:33)

Viper - The Probert E-Text Encyclopaedia.

The viper is a family of venomous snakes. They are characterized by

venom-conducting fangs which hinge forward when the snake bites.

Viper - Watson, Richard - Biblical and Theological Dictionary

אפעה , Job 20:16; Isa 30:6; Isa 59:5; εχιδνα, Mat 3:7; Mat 12:34; Mat 23:33; Luk 3:7; Act 28:3; a serpent famed for the venomousness of its bite, which is one of the most dangerous poisons in the animal kingdom. So remarkable, says Dr. Mead, has the viper been for its venom, that the remotest antiquity made it an emblem of what is hurtful and destructive. Nay, so terrible was the nature of these creatures, that they were very commonly thought to be sent as executioners of divine vengeance upon mankind, for enormous crimes which had escaped the course of justice. An instance of such an opinion as this we have in the history of St. Paul, Acts xxviii, whom the people of Melita, when they saw the viper leap upon his hand, presently concluded to be a murderer; and as readily made a god of him when, instead of having his hand inflamed, or falling down dead, one or other of which is usually the effect of these bites, he without any harm shook the reptile into the fire: it being obvious enough to imagine that he must stand in a near relation at least to the gods themselves, who could thus command the messengers of their vengeance, and counterwork the effects of such powerful agents.

Viper - Webster-1913

(1):

(a.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous makes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and other genera of the family Viperidae.

(2):

(a.) A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.