Adder: 5 definitions

Introduction
In Christianity
1. General definition
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Introduction:

Adder means something in Christianity. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. On this page you will also find search and cross-referencing tools.

In Christianity

General definition (in Christianity)

: archive.org: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Adder definition and references: (Psalms 140:3; Romans 3:13, 鈥渁sp鈥�) is the rendering of, (1.) Akshub (鈥渃oiling鈥� or 鈥渓ying in wait鈥�), properly an asp or viper, found only in this passage. (2.) Pethen (鈥渢wisting鈥�), a viper or venomous serpent identified with the cobra (Naja haje) (Psalms 58:4; 91:13); elsewhere 鈥渁sp.鈥� (3.) Tziphoni (鈥渉issing鈥�) (Proverbs 23:32); elsewhere rendered 鈥渃ockatrice,鈥� Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jeremiah 8:17, as it is here in the margin of the Authorized Version. The Revised Version has 鈥渂asilisk.鈥� This may have been the yellow viper, the Daboia xanthina, the largest and most dangerous of the vipers of Palestine. (4.) Shephiphon (鈥渃reeping鈥�), occurring only in Genesis 49:17, the small speckled venomous snake, the 鈥渉orned snake,鈥� or cerastes. Dan is compared to this serpent, which springs from its hiding-place on the passer-by.

: archive.org: Smith's Bible Dictionary

Adder refers to:鈥擳his word is used for any poisonous snake, and is applied in this general sense by the translators of the Authorized Version. The word adder occurs five times in the text of the Authorized Version (see below), and three times int he margin as synonymous with cockatrice, viz., (Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5) It represents four Hebrew words:

1) Acshub is found only in (Psalms 140:3) and may be represented by the Toxicoa of Egypt and North Africa.

2) Pethen. [Asp]

3) Tsepha, or Tsiphoni, occurs five times in the Hebrew Bible. In (Proverbs 23:32) it is it is translated adder, and in (Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jeremiah 8:17) it is rendered cockatrice . From Jeremiah we learn that it was of a hostile nature, and from the parallelism of (Isaiah 11:8) it appears that the Tsiphoni was considered even more dreadful than the Pethen .

4) Shephipon occurs only in (Genesis 49:17) where it is used to characterize the tribe of Dan. The habit of lurking int he sand and biting at the horse鈥檚 heels here alluded to suits the character of a well-known species of venomous snake, and helps to identify it with the celebrated horned viper, the asp of Cleopatra (Cerastes), which is found abundantly in the dry sandy deserts of Egypt, Syria and Arabia. The cerastes is extremely venomous. Bruce compelled a specimen to scratch eighteen pigeons upon the thigh as quickly as possible, and they all died in nearly the same interval of time.

: archive.org: Nave's Topical Bible

Adder definition and references: 鈥揂 venomous serpent Genesis 49:17; Psalms 91:13; 58:4; 140:3; Proverbs 23:32

: archive.org: Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Adder refers to:鈥擜dder, the English name of a kind of serpent. It occurs several times in the English version of the Bible, and is there used not for a particular species, but generally for several of this dangerous class of reptiles. We have before us a list, far from complete, of the herpetology of Palestine, Arabia, and Egypt, in which there are, among forty-three species indicated, about eight whose bite is accompanied with a venomous effusion, and therefore almost all very dangerous. In our present state of knowledge we deem it best to discuss, under the words Serpent and Viper all the Hebrew names not noticed in this article, and to refer to them those occurring in our version under the appellations of 'asp,' 'cockatrice,' etc.; and likewise to review the allusions to colossal boas and pythons, and, finally, to notice water-snakes and muraenidae, which translators and biblical naturalists have totally overlooked, although they must exist in the lakes of the Delta, are abundant on the north coast of Africa, and often exceed eight feet in length.

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: archive.org: Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Adder refers to:鈥擣ive times in the Old Testament KJV, and thrice in margin for "cockatrice" (Isaiah 11:8; Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 59:5 ). Four Hebrew terms stand for it. (1) Αkshub, (2) Ρethen, (3) Τziphoni , and (4) Shephiphon .

(1) Αkshub, ("one that lies in ambush"), swells its skin, and rears its head back for a strike. Psalms 140:3 quoted in Romans 3:13, "the poison of asps."

(2) Ρethen, Psalms 58:4; Psalms 91:13, "adder" (compare margin), but elsewhere translated "asp"; from a Hebrew root "to expand the neck." The deadly haje naja , or cobra of Egypt, fond of concealing itself in walls and holes. Serpents are without tympanic cavity and external openings to the ear. The deaf adder is not some particular species; but whereas a serpent's comparative deafness made it more amenable to those sounds it could hear, in some instances it was deaf because it would not hear (Jeremiah 8:17; Ecclesiastes 10:11). So David's unrighteous adversaries, though having some little moral sense yet left to which he appeals, yet stifled it, and were unwilling to hearken to the voice of God.

(3) Τziphoni, translated adder only in Proverbs 23:32; "at the last wine biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder," In Jeremiah 8:17 "cockatrices," from a root "to dart forward and hiss." The Greek basilisk , fierce, deadly; distinct from the "serpent" (Hebrew, nachash ), Isaiah 14:29; oviparous (Isaiah 59:5); subterranean in habits (Isaiah 11:8).

(4) Shephiphon, from a root "to creep"; Jacob's image of Dan (Genesis 49:17), lurking on the road, and biting at the horses' heels; the Coluber cerastes, a small and very venomous snake of Egypt. The charmers, by a particular pressure on the neck, can inflate the animal so that the serpent becomes rigid, and can be held out horizontally as a rod.

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Relevant text

Search found 21 books and stories containing Adder, Adders; (plurals include: Adders, Adderses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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