Reference: Cockatrice
American
An old English word of obscure origin, used by our translators to designate the Hebrew Tzepha, or Tsiphoni, a serpent of a highly venomous character, Isa 14:29; 59:5; Jer 8:17. See SERPENT.
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Easton
the mediaeval name (a corruption of "crocodile") of a fabulous serpent supposed to be produced from a cock's egg. It is generally supposed to denote the cerastes, or "horned viper," a very poisonous serpent about a foot long. Others think it to be the yellow viper (Daboia xanthina), one of the most dangerous vipers, from its size and its nocturnal habits (Isa 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jer 8:17; in all which the Revised Version renders the Hebrew tziph'oni by "basilisk"). In Pr 23:32 the Hebrew tzeph'a is rendered both in the Authorized Version and the Revised Version by "adder;" margin of Revised Version "basilisk," and of Authorized Version "cockatrice."
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Hastings
Morish
What reptile is alluded to is not definitely known: the Hebrew words (tsepha in Isa 14:29 only) and tsiphoni are from 'to hiss.' The texts in which they occur refer to its dangerous character. Its deadly sting will be changed in the millennium, when a little child shall put its hand on its den. Of Israel it is said figuratively 'they hatch cockatrice' eggs.' Isa 11:8; 59:5; Jer 8:17. The latter word is translated 'adder' in Pr 23:32.
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Smith
Cockatrice.
[ADDER]
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Watsons
COCKATRICE, ?????, or ????, Pr 23:32; Isa 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jer 8:17. A venomous serpent. The original Hebrew word has been variously rendered, the aspic, the regulus, the hydra, the hemorhoos, the viper, and the cerastes. In Isa 11:8, this serpent is evidently intended for a proportionate advance in malignity beyond the peten which precedes it; and in Isa 14:29, it must mean a worse kind of serpent than the nahash. In Isa 59:5, it is referred to as oviparous. In Jer 8:17, Dr. Blaney, after Aquila, retains the rendering of basilisk. Bochart, who thinks it to be the regulus or basilisk, says that it may be so denominated by an onomatopoeia from its hissing; and accordingly it is hence called in Latin sibilus, "the hisser." So the Arabic saphaa signifies "flatu adurere," [to scorch with a blast.] The Chaldee paraphrast, the Syriac, and the Arabic, render it the hurman or horman; which rabbi Selomo on Ge 49:17, declares to be the tziphoni of the Hebrews: "Hurman vocatur species, cujus morsus est insanabilis. Is est Hebraeis tziphoni, et Chaldaice dicitur hurman, quia omnia facit ???vastationem; id est, quia omnia vastat, et ad internecionem destruit." [The species is called hurman, whose bite is incurable. It is the tziphoni of the Hebrews, and is called in Chaldee hurman, because it makes all things ???