English · KJV
H6848

צֶפַע

tsephaʻ /tseh'-fah or tsiphoniy tsif-o-nee'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom an unused root meaning to extrude
Meaninga viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing)
KJV usageadder, cockatrice.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsephaʻ — 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 tsephaʻ, represented by H6848, refers to a venomous snake such as an adder or cockatrice. Its definition is derived from an unused root suggesting hissing or extruding a tongue. It appears 5 times in 5 unique verses, consistently symbolizing a deadly and dangerous creature.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H6848 is used to illustrate severe threats and judgment. It serves as a potent metaphor for the dangerous consequences of indulgence, warning that wine at last "stingeth like an adder" Proverbs 23:32. Prophetically, it represents an escalating evil, with a cockatrice emerging from a serpent's root Isaiah 14:29. God uses the creature as an instrument of inescapable punishment, promising to send cockatrices that cannot be charmed to bite the people Jeremiah 8:17. The term is also central to a vision of restored peace, where a child can safely play near a cockatrice' den, signifying the removal of all harm from creation Isaiah 11:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context and nature of H6848:

  • H5175 nâchâsh (serpent): This is a more general term for a snake and often appears with H6848 to establish the context of serpents as agents of danger and judgment Jeremiah 8:17.
  • H5391 nâshak (bite): This verb, meaning "to strike with a sting (as a serpent)," describes the fatal action of the cockatrice and other serpents sent for judgment Jeremiah 8:17.
  • H6567 pârâsh (sting): Used in parallel with "bite," this word emphasizes the wounding attack of the adder as a metaphor for the painful effects of sin Proverbs 23:32.
  • H660 ʼephʻeh (viper): This term for a venomous serpent appears as the creature that hatches from a crushed cockatrice egg, linking the two as sources of death Isaiah 59:5.
  • H6620 pethen (asp): This word for another venomous snake is used alongside H6848 in the vision of future peace, highlighting that danger from all such creatures will be neutralized Isaiah 11:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6848 is concentrated in its symbolic use.

  • Instrument of Divine Judgment: The cockatrice is portrayed as an agent of God's wrath, sent to execute punishment upon a rebellious people, signifying a judgment that is both deadly and unavoidable Jeremiah 8:17.
  • Fruit of Wickedness: The act of hatching cockatrice' eggs is a powerful metaphor for conceiving and carrying out evil plans. These actions lead directly to death and produce even more venomous consequences, symbolized by the viper that emerges Isaiah 59:5.
  • Symbol of Restored Creation: In the messianic prophecy of Isaiah, the neutralization of the cockatrice's threat is a sign of a renewed and perfected world. Its presence without its danger symbolizes a creation reconciled and at peace Isaiah 11:8.

Summary

In summary, H6848 is a highly specific term for a deadly serpent used exclusively in prophetic and wisdom literature. It functions as a powerful symbol for lethal consequences, divine judgment, and the propagation of evil. Its ultimate transformation from a symbol of death to an emblem of peace in a restored creation underscores the comprehensive nature of God's redemptive plan.

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 5 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.

  • צִפְעוֹנִי
  • צִפְעֹנִים

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. H5391 נָשַׁךְ a primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan; bite, lend up H6567 פָּרָשׁ a primitive root; to separate, literally (to disperse) or figuratively (to specify); also (by implication) to wound; sca H660 אֶפְעֶה from אֵפַע (in the sense of hissing); an asp or other venomous serpent; viper. H6620 פֶּתֶן from an unused root meaning to twist; an asp (from its contortions); adder.

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 5 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Proverbs
3
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah

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.