Isaiah 11:8

The most startling contrast of all, the innocent babe playing with the deadly serpent.

asp Heb. pethen, rendered "adder" in Psalms 58:4; Psalms 91:13, elsewhere as here. The species has not been identified. The cockatrice(çiph -ônî, rendered "adder" in Proverbs 23:32) is usually identified with the basilisk (or King-serpent) of North Africa, but that reptile is not found in Palestine.

The word den(only here) is doubtful. The most natural view is that it is fem. of the word for "luminary" and denotes the glittering eye of the serpent, which attracts the child like a jewel.

The verb rendered put means strictly "lead"; comp. ducere manum.