What does « Snake / Viper » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Snake / Viper (ثعب) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

ثعب
Snake / Viper
Root: ث - ع - ب
Creed (aqida) 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Snake / Viper

Allah says: 'And there it was - a serpent manifest (thu'bân mubîn)' (Al-A'râf: 107).

Al-thu'bân is the large serpent.

Moses' staff transformed into an immense snake visible to all.

This miracle convinced Pharaoh's magicians of Moses' truth.

Snake / Viper in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
Al-A'raf 1
Ash-Shu'ara 1
Surah Al-A'raf : 107 Meccan
﴿فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ
So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest.
Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 32 Meccan
﴿فَأَلْقَىٰ عَصَاهُ فَإِذَا هِىَ ثُعْبَانٌ مُّبِينٌ
So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent manifest.

Words from the same root as Snake / Viper

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