In the Bible, the term "hissing" is often used metaphorically to convey scorn, derision, or a signal of judgment. It appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, primarily in the prophetic books, where it serves as a vivid image of divine retribution or public disgrace.

Old Testament Usage

1. Expression of Scorn and Derision: Hissing is frequently associated with mockery and contempt. In the ancient Near Eastern context, hissing was a gesture of derision, similar to how one might boo or jeer today. For example, in 1 Kings 9:8, the desolation of the temple is described: "And this house will become a heap of rubble. Everyone who passes by it will be appalled and will hiss and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?’" . Here, hissing signifies the astonishment and scorn of onlookers witnessing the ruin of what was once a glorious edifice.

2. Symbol of Judgment: The prophets often use hissing as a symbol of God's judgment upon nations or peoples. In Jeremiah 19:8, God declares, "I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will hiss because of all its wounds" . This passage illustrates how hissing is used to depict the shame and devastation that result from divine punishment.

3. Signal of Summoning: In some instances, hissing is used as a signal to summon or call forth. Isaiah 5:26 states, "He lifts a banner for the distant nations; He whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come!" . Here, the act of hissing or whistling is a metaphor for God summoning foreign nations to execute His judgment.

4. Public Disgrace: Hissing also conveys the idea of public disgrace and humiliation. In Lamentations 2:15, the prophet laments, "All who pass by clap their hands at you; they scoff and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: ‘Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?’" . The hissing here underscores the profound shame and dishonor experienced by Jerusalem due to its downfall.

Theological Implications

The use of hissing in the Bible underscores the seriousness of divine judgment and the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. It serves as a reminder of the shame and derision that accompany disobedience and the breaking of covenantal relationships with God. The imagery of hissing highlights the public nature of judgment and the communal impact of sin, as entire cities or nations become objects of scorn.

Cultural Context

In the cultural context of the Bible, hissing was a common expression of contempt. It was a non-verbal form of communication that conveyed strong emotions and reactions. Understanding this cultural practice helps modern readers grasp the intensity and gravity of the biblical passages where hissing is mentioned.

Overall, the concept of hissing in the Bible is a powerful metaphor for judgment, disgrace, and the consequences of sin, serving as a poignant reminder of the need for faithfulness and obedience to God.Hissing

As a mode of calling an attendant to his master's side, is a custom very prevalent in Palestine. Says Osborne, "Whenever a servant was wanted, the usual �shee!- which is so common throughout the land, started two or three in an instant." The same custom is evidently alluded to in Isaiah 5:26; 7:18; "The Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt," etc.

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Hiss.

2. (n.) The act of emitting a hiss or hisses.

3. (n.) The occasion of contempt; the object of scorn and derision.

8322. shereqah -- (object of derisive) hissing
... 8321b, 8322. shereqah. 8323 . (object of derisive) hissing. Transliteration:
shereqah Phonetic Spelling: (sher-ay-kaw') Short Definition: hissing. ...
/hebrew/8322.htm - 6k

8292. sheruqah -- hissing, whistling, piping
... sheruqah or sheriqah. 8293 . hissing, whistling, piping. Transliteration: sheruqah
or sheriqah Phonetic Spelling: (sher-oo-kaw') Short Definition: hissing. ...
/hebrew/8292.htm - 6k

660. epheh -- (a kind of) viper
... viper. From epha' (in the sense of hissing); an asp or other venomous serpent --
viper. see HEBREW epha'. 659, 660. epheh. 661 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/660.htm - 6k

6848. tsepha' -- a serpent
... adder, cockatrice From an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting
out the tongue, ie Hissing) -- adder, cockatrice. 6847, 6848. ...
/hebrew/6848.htm - 5k

5153. nachush -- of bronze
... nachash (perhaps in the sense of ringing, ie Bell-metal; or from the red color of
the throat of a serpent (nachash, as denominative) when hissing); coppery, ie ...
/hebrew/5153.htm - 6k

The Release of Saint George.
... as did Saint David and the faithful Owen; but, equally dauntless, they clove their
onward way through brake and briar, in spite of the hissing of serpents and ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm

Fences and Serpents
... any attempt to pull it down"which being interpreted is, to transgress the laws of
life which God has enjoined"is sure to bring out the hissing snake with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/fences and serpents.htm

A Godly Reformation
... God of Israel.8. Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and
He hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a godly reformation.htm

The Birth of Saint George.
... The dismal croaking of the night raven, the hissing of serpents, the hoarse bellowing
of wild bulls, the roaring of lions, the laughing of hyenas, and other ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter one the birth of.htm

Out of the Deep of Doubt, Darkness, and Hell.
... "Heated hot with burning fears, And bathed in baths of hissing tears, And battered
with the strokes of doom, To shape and use.". Two Years Ago. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/out of the deep/v out of the deep.htm

First Part.
... Zeale comes of [Greek: zo], a word framed of the very sound and hissing noise, which
hot coales or burning iron make when they meete with their contrary. ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/first part.htm

Christ --Perfect through Sufferings
... and, therefore, it is imperative upon us that we make no alteration in it, no, not
of a word, lest we should hear the Apostle's anathema hissing through the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christperfect through sufferings.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 2.
... He is [Greek] (the slanderer); Satan, the spiteful adversary; the old snake or dragon,
hissing out lies, and spitting forth venom of calumnious accusation; the ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part 2.htm

The Penitent Thief
... The earth had not opened her mouth. The business of death was going on undisturbed.
The crowd was still there, mocking and hissing and wagging the head. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/vii the penitent thief.htm

Answer to Objections: Signal Instances of Prayer
... It was on being heard that Ananiah and Azariah and Mishael became worthy to receive
a hissing rain and wind which kept the flame of the fire from taking effect ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter viii answer to objections .htm

Hissing (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hissing (9 Occurrences). ... Job 27:23 Men make signs of joy
because of him, driving him from his place with sounds of hissing. (BBE). ...
/h/hissing.htm - 9k

Hiss (13 Occurrences)
... hissed as it flew. 3. (vt) To condemn or express contempt for by hissing.
4. (vt) To utter with a hissing sound. 5. (n.) A prolonged ...
/h/hiss.htm - 14k

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)
... 8 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered
them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you ...
/a/astonishment.htm - 24k

Horror (51 Occurrences)
... 8 Wherefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered
them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as ye ...
/h/horror.htm - 23k

Object (76 Occurrences)
... 8 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered
them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you ...
/o/object.htm - 31k

Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... 8 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered
them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you ...
/s/scorn.htm - 31k

Tossed (19 Occurrences)
... 8 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered
them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you ...
/t/tossed.htm - 12k

Passer (9 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 18:16 To make their land become a desolation, A hissing age-during, Every
passer by it is astonished, And bemoaneth with his head. (YLT). ...
/p/passer.htm - 9k

Basilisk (3 Occurrences)
... The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and
that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. See Cockatrice. ...
/b/basilisk.htm - 9k

Appalled (31 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 18:16 to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone
who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head. (See NIV). ...
/a/appalled.htm - 15k

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