English · KJV
H6620

פֶּתֶן

pethen /peh'-then/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom an unused root meaning to twist
Meaningan asp (from its contortions)
KJV usageadder.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pethen — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pethen, represented by H6620, refers to an asp or adder. The term derives from an unused root meaning to twist, likely referencing the creature's contortions. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses, consistently portraying a venomous and dangerous serpent.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Biblically, H6620 is used metaphorically to illustrate concepts of poison and wickedness. Job describes the wicked man's food turning into the "gall of asps" Job 20:14 and notes that he will "suck the poison of asps" Job 20:16. In Deuteronomy, the wine of the wicked is described as "the cruel venom of asps" Deuteronomy 32:33. The psalmist compares the wicked to a "deaf adder that stoppeth her ear" Psalms 58:4. In contrast, passages of hope depict this danger being overcome. The righteous are promised protection, that they will "tread upon the lion and adder" Psalms 91:13, and a vision of future peace shows a child playing harmlessly by the "hole of the asp" Isaiah 11:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are used alongside H6620 to describe serpents and other dangerous forces:

  • H5175 nâchâsh (serpent): This is a general term for a snake, used in parallel with pethen to describe the nature of the wicked, whose poison is "like the poison of a serpent" Psalms 58:4.
  • H660 ʼephʻeh (viper): Another type of venomous snake, its tongue is said to slay the one who sucks the poison of the asp Job 20:16.
  • H7219 rôʼsh (poison, venom): This word defines the deadly substance associated with the asp, as in the "venom of asps" Deuteronomy 32:33 and the "poison of asps" Job 20:16.
  • H6848 tsephaʻ (adder, cockatrice): This term for a viper is used to describe a den where a child will safely put his hand in a future time of peace, mentioned in the same context as the asp Isaiah 11:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6620 is conveyed through its consistent symbolic usage:

  • Embodiment of Wickedness: The asp's venom is a direct metaphor for the corrupt and destructive nature of the wicked. Their nourishment becomes poison within them Job 20:14, and their offerings are like venom Deuteronomy 32:33.
  • A Defeated Threat: The asp is listed among fierce creatures like the lion and the dragon that will be trampled underfoot by those who trust in God, signifying divine protection over deadly forces Psalms 91:13.
  • Symbol of Messianic Peace: The danger of the asp is completely neutralized in the prophetic vision of Isaiah. A child playing near its hole illustrates a restored creation where the most lethal threats no longer hold power Isaiah 11:8.

Summary

In summary, H6620 pethen is more than a biological descriptor for an adder. It serves as a potent biblical symbol for lethal danger, divine judgment on wickedness, and the ultimate triumph of God's peace. From the internal corruption of the wicked to the tamed beasts of a renewed world, the asp illustrates the power of God to both judge evil and render it harmless.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • פְּתָנִים
  • פֶתֶן

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5175 נָחָשׁ from נָחַשׁ; a snake (from its hiss); serpent. H660 אֶפְעֶה from אֵפַע (in the sense of hissing); an asp or other venomous serpent; viper. H7219 רֹאשׁ or רוֹשׁ; (Deuteronomy 32:32), apparently the same as רֹאשׁ; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous H6848 צֶפַע from an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing); adder, cockatrice.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Psalms (2 verses each); never once in the other 35.

1
Deuteronomy
2
Job
2
Psalms
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.