שְׁפִיפֹן
𐤔𐤐𐤉𐤐𐤍
shᵉphîyphôn
H8207 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of snake or serpent, likely a species characterized by its stealth or striking behavior. In biblical context, the term refers to a venomous or dangerous serpent, possibly the horned viper (cerastes), known in the Levantine wilderness. The semantic range also includes the use of the term in similes and metaphors for swiftness, cunning, or lurking danger.
Semantic Range
venomous or dangerous snake, serpent; metaphor for stealth, menace, cunning, sudden attack
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁוף (shuf), meaning 'to crush, bruise, strike.' The noun form שְׁפִיפֹן appears to be a derivative, possibly used to denote a serpent which strikes or snaps. The exact zoological identification is uncertain, but ancient commentators associated it with specific types of vipers or adders common in the region.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁפִיפֹן occurs only sparingly in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Genesis 49:17, in Jacob's blessing over Dan), where it is used in a metaphorical context describing Dan as 'a serpent in the path, a שְׁפִיפֹן on the way.' The imagery emphasizes stealth and danger. Ancient and modern translators render the term variably as 'adder,' 'viper,' or 'horned snake,' reflecting uncertainty about the precise species. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for snake (e.g., נחשׁ, צפעוני), which may refer to different species or emphasize different characteristics. Later Jewish traditions and translations (such as the Septuagint and Vulgate) also struggled with the precise identification, sometimes rendering the term generically as a 'snake.' English translations often use 'adder' or 'viper,' but these do not capture the full nuance or potential specificity of the original term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning the same as שׁוּף; a kind of serpent (as snapping), probably the cerastes or horned adder; adder.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שוף (sh-w-p̄) — crush, bruise, strike
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7779 | שׁוּף | you will strike him |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8207-01 |
שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן | shefifon | HNcmsa |
a viper | striking serpent | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8207-01 |
Genesis 49:17 | שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן | shefifon | HNcmsa |
a viper | striking serpent |