Strong's Lexicon
herpeton: Creeping thing, reptile
Original Word:ἑρπετόν
Part of Speech:Noun, Neuter
Transliteration:herpeton
Pronunciation:her-peh-TON
Phonetic Spelling:(her-pet-on')
Definition:Creeping thing, reptile
Meaning:a creeping creature, reptile, especially a serpent.
Word Origin:Derived from the Greek verb ἕρπω (herpō), meaning "to creep" or "to crawl."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries:The Hebrew equivalent often used in the Old Testament is רֶמֶשׂ (remes), which also refers to creeping or crawling creatures (e.g., Genesis 1:24).
Usage:The term "herpeton" is used in the New Testament to refer to creatures that move by crawling or creeping. It encompasses a variety of animals, including reptiles and other similar creatures. The word is often used to describe animals that are considered lower or less esteemed in the hierarchy of creation.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the ancient Near Eastern context, creeping things were often associated with the earth and were sometimes viewed with a mixture of fear and reverence. In Jewish dietary laws, many creeping things were considered unclean (Leviticus 11:29-31). The cultural perception of these creatures often reflected their physical characteristics and behaviors, which were seen as emblematic of certain spiritual or moral qualities.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom herpó (to crawl)
Definitiona creeping thing
NASB Translationcrawling creatures (3), reptiles (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2062: ἑρπετόνἑρπετόν,
ἑρπετοῦ,
τό (from
ἕρπω to creep, crawl, (Latin
serpo; hence, serpent, and from same root, reptile;
Vanicek, p. 1030f)),
a creeping thing, reptile; by secular writings used chiefly of serpents; in
Homer, Odyssey 4, 418;
Xenophon, mem. 1, 4, 11 an animal of any sort; in Biblical Greek opposed to quadrupeds and birds,
Acts 10:12;
Acts 11:6;
Romans 1:23; and to marine animals also,
James 3:7; on this last passage cf.
Genesis 9:3. (the
Sept. for
רֶמֶשׂ and
שֶׁרֶץ.)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
creeping thing, serpent.Neuter of a derivative of herpo (to creep); a reptile, i.e. (by Hebraism (compareremes)) a small animal -- creeping thing, serpent.
see HEBREWremes
Forms and Transliterations
έρπει ερπετα ερπετά ἑρπετὰ ερπετοίς ερπετόν ερπετού ερπετώ ερπετων ερπετών ἑρπετῶν έρποντα έρποντι ερπόντων ερπούσης έρπουσιν ερύθημα ηρυθροδανωμένα erpeta erpeton erpetōn herpeta herpetà herpeton herpetôn herpetōn herpetō̂nLinks
Interlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts
