Psalm 58:4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
Proverbs 23:32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
Deuteronomy 32:33 Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.
Isaiah 59:5 They hatch the eggs of vipers and weave a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched.
Revelation 9:19 For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.
Romans 3:13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
Jeremiah 8:17 “For behold, I will send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD.
Numbers 21:6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
Mark 16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”
1 Corinthians 10:9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
Acts 28:3-6 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. / When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” / But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ...
Genesis 3:14-15 So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life. / And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Isaiah 11:8 The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest.
Amos 5:19 It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake.
Romans 3:13 Their throatis an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of aspsis under their lips:
the viper's
Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whencecome the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a peoplethat shall not profitthem.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Acts 28:3-6 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laidthem on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand…
He will suck the poison of cobras; This phrase suggests the self-destructive nature of wickedness. In the ancient Near East, cobras were known for their deadly venom, symbolizing the lethal consequences of sin. The imagery of "sucking" poison implies a deliberate action, highlighting the willful engagement in sinful behavior. Biblically, serpents often represent deceit and evil, as seen inGenesis 3 with the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The act of sucking poison can be seen as a metaphor for indulging in sin, which ultimately leads to spiritual death.
the fangs of a viper will kill him. Vipers, like cobras, were feared for their deadly bite. The "fangs" symbolize the inevitable and fatal consequences of sin. In the cultural context of the time, encountering a viper was a life-threatening event, underscoring the seriousness of the warning. This phrase echoes the biblical principle that sin leads to death, as stated inRomans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death." The imagery of a viper's fangs also connects to the idea of judgment and divine retribution, where the wicked face the consequences of their actions. This can be seen as a type of Christ, who, unlike the wicked, offers salvation from the "poison" of sin through His sacrifice.
Persons / Places / Events
1.Zophar the Naamathite One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Zophar is speaking, offering his perspective on the fate of the wicked.
2.Job The central figure of the book, a man who is suffering greatly and is seeking understanding and vindication from God.
3.Cobras and Vipers Symbolic creatures representing danger and death. In the ancient Near East, snakes were often seen as symbols of evil and destruction.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Wickedness Zophar's speech highlights the inevitable consequences of living a life contrary to God's ways. Just as one cannot escape the deadly effects of snake venom, so too the wicked cannot escape the repercussions of their actions.
The Deceptive Nature of Sin Sin often appears alluring and harmless at first, much like the smooth movements of a snake. However, its end is destructive and deadly, leading to spiritual death.
The Importance of Righteous Living This passage serves as a reminder to pursue righteousness and avoid the paths that lead to spiritual and moral decay. Aligning one's life with God's will is crucial for avoiding the 'poison' of sin.
Trust in God's Justice While Zophar's understanding of Job's situation is flawed, his assertion that God will ultimately deal justly with the wicked is true. Believers can trust that God sees all and will administer justice in His perfect timing.
Verse 16. -He shall suck the poison of asps. Probably Zophar does not affix any very distinct meaning to his threats. He is content to utter a series of fierce-sounding but vague menaces, which he knows that Job will regard as launched against himself, and does not care whether they are taken metaphorically or literally. Job will be equally distressed in either ease.The viper's tongue shall slay him. It is really the viper'stooth, and not histongue, that slays; but Zophar is not, any more than Job (Job 27:18), an accomplished naturalist.
the fangs לְשׁ֣וֹן(lə·šō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 3956:The tongue
of a viper אֶפְעֶֽה׃(’ep̄·‘eh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 660:An asp, other venomous serpent
will kill him. תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ(ta·har·ḡê·hū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 2026:To smite with deadly intent
