nisel lifgħat

Maltese

Etymology

From nisel +‎ lifgħat, a calque of Ancient Greek γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν (gennḗmata ekhidnôn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪ.sɛl lɪˈfaːt/
• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪ.sɛ.l‿ɪl.lɪˈfaːt/ (with definite article)

Noun

nisel lifgħat m

1. (biblical) brood of vipers; generation of vipers; address used by Jesus for the Pharisees and Sadducees (three times in Matthew), and by John the Baptist for the unregerate Jews (Luke 3:7)
   • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, San Mattew 23:33:

     Ja sriep u nisel il-lifgħat, kif se taħarbu mill-kundanna ta’ l-infern?

     King James Version translation: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?