H8314a H8314a
fiery serpent; a venomous snake whose bite burns, or a mythic winged serpent/dragon
Derived from the root meaning 'to burn,' this noun describes serpents whose venom produces a burning sensation. In the wilderness narratives, God sends 'fiery serpents' whose deadly bites punish Israel's complaint (Num 21:6), and Moses is instructed to fashion a bronze replica (Num 21:8). Deuteronomy 8:15 recalls the 'fiery serpent' of the desert. Isaiah's oracles describe a more mythic creature — a 'flying fiery serpent' (Isa 14:29; 30:6) — blending natural and supernatural imagery. Spanish 'ardiente' (burning) preserves the etymological link to fire, while English 'fiery' and French/German equivalents confirm the burning quality as central.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A venomous serpent whose bite produces a burning sensation, the 'fiery snake' of the wilderness. Numbers 21:6 and 21:8 describe these lethal creatures sent as divine punishment, and Deut 8:15 recalls the desert's 'fiery serpent' danger. Spanish 'ardiente' (burning) and English 'fiery' capture the etymological core — the burning effect of the venom. In Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6, the term expands to a mythic 'flying fiery serpent,' a winged dragon-like creature symbolizing heightened threat from hostile nations. 5×
AR["السَّامَّةَ", "ثُعْبَانٌ", "حَيَّةً-سَامَّةً", "سَامَّةٍ", "وَ-ثُعْبَانٍ"]·ben["অগ্নিময়", "উড়ন্ত", "ও-সরাফ", "জ্বলন্ত", "সরাফ"]·DE["der-fiery", "ein-fiery-Schlange", "fiery", "und-verbrannte", "verbrannte"]·EN["a-fiery-serpent", "and-flying", "fiery", "flying", "the-fiery"]·FR["[ושרף]", "[שרף]", "fiery", "le-fiery", "un-fiery-serpent"]·heb["ה-שרפים", "ו-שרף", "שרף"]·HI["उड़ने-वाला-अग्नि-सांप", "और-जलता-सर्प", "जलता-हुआ", "जलनेवाला-सांप", "जलनेवालों"]·ID["berbisa", "dan-ular-naga", "naga-terbang", "ular-berbisa", "yang-berapi"]·IT["brucio", "e-brucio", "fiery", "il-fiery", "un-fiery-serpente"]·jav["ingkang-ngobong", "lan-naga", "mandi", "naga", "ula-ngobong"]·KO["그-불-뱀들", "그리고-불뱀", "날아다니는", "불-뱀-을", "불뱀과"]·PT["ardente", "as-ardentes", "dragão-voador", "e-serpente", "serpente-ardente"]·RU["змей", "змея-огненного", "и-сераф", "огненного", "огненных"]·ES["ardiente", "las-ardientes", "serafín", "serpiente-ardiente", "y-serafín"]·SW["na-nyoka-wa-moto", "nyoka-wa-moto", "wenye-sumu"]·TR["ucan", "ve-ates-yilan", "yakıcı", "zehirli"]·urd["آگ-والا", "اور-اڑنے-والا-سانپ", "اڑتا-ہوا", "جلانے-والے", "سراف"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. שָׂרָף n.m. Is 14:29 fiery, serpent, usually venomous (poss. from above √, from burning effect of poison);—abs. שׂ׳ Nu 21:8 (JE; on Arabic parallels v. JacobAr. Dichter ii. 93, iv. 10 f.), appos. נָחָשׁ שׂ׳ Dt 8:15, pl. הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים Nu 21:6; a flying serpent, or dragon, שָׂרָף מְעוֹפֵף Is 14:29; 30:6.