Easton's Bible Dictionary (in R.V., Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jeremiah 8:17), the "king serpent," as the name imports; a fabulous serpent said to be three spans long, with a spot on its head like a crown. Probably the yellow snake is intended. (see COCKATRICE.) Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A fabulous serpent, or dragon. The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. See Cockatrice. 2. (n.) A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family Iguanidae. 3. (n.) A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BASILISK baz'-i-lisk (tsepha`, tsiph`oni, from obsolete root tsapha`, "to hiss": Isaiah 11:8; Isaiah 14:29; Isaiah 59:5 Jeremiah 8:17 Proverbs 23:32 m. In Proverbs 23:32, the King James Version has "adder," margin "cockatrice"; in the other passages cited the King James Version has "cockatrice," margin "adder" (except Jeremiah 8:17, no margin)): The word is from basiliskos, "kinglet," from basileus, "king," and signifies a mythical reptile hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg. Its hissing drove away other serpents. Its look, and especially its breath, was fatal. According to Pliny, it was named from a crown-like spot on its head. It has been identified with the equally mythical COCKATRICE (which see). In all the passages cited, it denotes a venomous serpent (see ADDER; SERPENT), but it is impossible to tell what, if any, particular species is referred to. It must be borne in mind that while there are poisonous snakes in Palestine, there are more which are not poisonous, and most of the latter, as well as some harmless lizards, are commonly regarded as deadly. Several of the harmless snakes have crownlike markings on their heads, and it is quite conceivable that the basilisk myth may have been founded upon one of these. Alfred Ely Day

Multi-Version Concordance Basilisk (3 Occurrences) Proverbs 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. (See JPS YLT) Isaiah 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. (See JPS WBS) Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent's root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (See JPS WBS)