ὄφεις [7 verses](noun pl masc voc/nom/acc) "Serpents"is ophis, which means "serpent," "a serpent-like bracelet," "a specific constellation," "a creeping plant," and "a type of fish." It is a metaphor for "an arrow." -- The word translated as "serpent" is also a kind of fish. The "serpent" was used by Jesus both as a metaphor for wisdom (Mat.10:16) and, of course, an evil cunning. This is a reference to the Hebrew in Genesis 3:1, where the serpent is described as the cleverest of all animals. The bronze or brass snake raised by Moses in the desert to cure the Israelites from snakebite is an symbol for Christ being raised on the cross, John 3:14.