### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼephʻeh**, represented by `{{H660}}`, is a term for a **viper**. Based on a root word suggesting "hissing," it appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. It denotes an asp or other venomous serpent and is consistently associated with lethality and danger.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H660}}` symbolizes imminent threat and the consequences of sin. In Job, the wicked man's fate is sealed when "the **viper's** tongue shall slay him" [[Job 20:16]]. Isaiah uses the word to describe the perils of a "land of trouble and anguish," which is home to the lion, the **viper**, and the fiery flying serpent [[Isaiah 30:6]]. The term is also used metaphorically to illustrate the fruit of evil deeds, where a crushed cockatrice's egg "breaketh out into a **viper**" [[Isaiah 59:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of danger and venom associated with the viper:
* `{{H2026}}` **hârag** (to smite with deadly intent; ... slay): This verb is directly paired with the viper to describe its lethal action, as seen when the viper's tongue will **slay** the wicked [[Job 20:16]].
* `{{H6848}}` **tsephaʻ** (a viper ... adder, cockatrice): This word for another venomous snake appears in tandem with ʼephʻeh. Sinful actions are depicted as hatching a **cockatrice's** egg, which, when crushed, reveals a viper [[Isaiah 59:5]].
* `{{H8314}}` **sârâph** (burning, i.e. (figuratively) poisonous (serpent); ... fiery (serpent)): This term for a "fiery serpent" is listed alongside the viper as one of the deadly creatures inhabiting a desolate land [[Isaiah 30:6]].
* `{{H6620}}` **pethen** (an asp): This word is used in parallel with viper to describe the source of deadly poison that the wicked consumes [[Job 20:16]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H660}}` lies in its potent symbolism of death and evil:
* **Sudden, Lethal Judgment:** The viper represents a swift and deadly consequence for wickedness. Its tongue is the instrument that will "slay" the unrighteous, illustrating a fatal and inescapable end [[Job 20:16]].
* **Manifestation of Sin:** The imagery of a viper emerging from a crushed egg signifies that evil intentions and actions ultimately produce deadly results. It is the tangible outcome of a hidden, corrupt source [[Isaiah 59:5]].
* **Marker of a Cursed Environment:** The viper is a resident of the "land of trouble and anguish" [[Isaiah 30:6]]. Its presence helps define a place that is dangerous and hostile, reflecting a state of judgment or separation from divine protection.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H660}}` is used infrequently, its meaning is sharp and consistent. It is more than just a biological descriptor; it is a biblical symbol for deadly threats, the tangible fruit of sin, and the lethal nature of a world under judgment. The word **ʼephʻeh** powerfully communicates a sense of sudden, venomous danger that cannot be ignored.
TRV