173. akantha

Lexicon

akantha: Thorn

Original Word: ἄκανθα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: akantha
Pronunciation: ä'-kan-thä
Phonetic Spelling: (ak'-an-thah)
Definition: Thorn
Meaning: a thorn-bush, prickly plant; a thorn.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

thorn.

Probably from the same as akmen; a thorn -- thorn.

see GREEK akmen

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from aké (a point, edge)
Definition
a prickly plant, thorn
NASB Translation
thorn (1), thorns (13).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 173: ἄκανθα

ἄκανθα, (ης, ἡ (ἀκή a point (but see in ἀκμή));

a. a thorn bramble-bush, brier: Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44; Hebrews 6:8; εἰς τάς ἀκάνθας i. e. among the seeds of thorns, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:7 (L margin: ἐπί), 18 (Tdf. ἐπί); Luke 8:14 (Luke 8:7 ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν); ἐπί τάς ἀκάνθας, i. e. upon ground in which seeds of thorns were lying hidden, Matthew 13:7.

b. a thorny plant: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν, Matthew 27:29; John 19:2 — for bare thorns might have caused delirium or even death; what species of plant is referred to, is not clear. Some boldly read ἀκανθῶν, from ἄκανθος, acanthus, bear's foot; but the meaning of ἄκανθα is somewhat comprehensive even in secular writings cf. the classical Greek Lexicons under the word (On the see BB. DD. under the word, and for references McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word "ake" meaning "a point" or "spike."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H5518 סִיר (sir): A thorn or brier.
• H6975 קוֹץ (qots): A thorn or thorn bush.
• H7898 שָׁמִיר (shamir): A thorn or brier, often used metaphorically for desolation or judgment.

These Hebrew terms similarly convey the idea of physical and metaphorical obstacles, reflecting the consistent biblical theme of thorns as symbols of sin, suffering, and the challenges faced by God's people.

Usage: The term ἄκανθα is used in the New Testament to refer to literal thorns or thorn bushes, as well as metaphorically to describe obstacles or challenges, particularly in the context of spiritual growth and the reception of God's word.

Context: The Greek word ἄκανθα appears several times in the New Testament, often in the context of parables and teachings of Jesus. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:7, Mark 4:7, Luke 8:7), thorns are used to symbolize the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth that choke the word, preventing it from becoming fruitful. This metaphor highlights the spiritual dangers that can hinder a believer's growth and productivity in faith.

Additionally, ἄκανθα is used in the account of the crucifixion of Jesus, where a crown of thorns is placed on His head (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2). This act of mockery by the Roman soldiers symbolizes the suffering and humiliation that Jesus endured. The crown of thorns serves as a poignant reminder of the curse of sin and the redemptive suffering of Christ.

The imagery of thorns is also found in the Old Testament, where thorns and thistles are part of the curse pronounced upon the ground after the fall of man (Genesis 3:18). This connection underscores the pervasive impact of sin and the need for redemption.

Forms and Transliterations

άκανθα ακανθαι άκανθαι ἄκανθαι ακάνθαις άκανθαν ακανθας ακάνθας ἀκάνθας ακάνθης ακανθων ακανθών ἀκανθῶν akanthai ákanthai akanthas akánthas akanthon akanthôn akanthōn akanthō̂n

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 7:16 N-GFP
GRK: συλλέγουσιν ἀπὸ ἀκανθῶν σταφυλὰς ἢ
NAS: are not gathered from thorn [bushes] nor
KJV: grapes of thorns, or figs
INT: Do they gather from thorns grapes or

Matthew 13:7 N-AFP
GRK: ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας καὶ ἀνέβησαν
NAS: among the thorns, and the thorns
KJV: fell among thorns; and the thorns
INT: upon the thorns and grew up

Matthew 13:7 N-NFP
GRK: ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ ἔπνιξαν
NAS: the thorns, and the thorns came
KJV: thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and
INT: grew up the thorns and choked

Matthew 13:22 N-AFP
GRK: εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς οὗτός
NAS: among the thorns, this
KJV: among the thorns is
INT: among the thorns having been sown this

Matthew 27:29 N-GFP
GRK: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν ἐπέθηκαν ἐπὶ
NAS: together a crown of thorns, they put
KJV: a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon
INT: a crown of thorns they put [it] on

Mark 4:7 N-AFP
GRK: εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας καὶ ἀνέβησαν
NAS: among the thorns, and the thorns
KJV: fell among thorns, and the thorns
INT: among the thorns and grew up

Mark 4:7 N-NFP
GRK: ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ συνέπνιξαν
NAS: the thorns, and the thorns came
KJV: thorns, and the thorns grew up, and
INT: grew up the thorns and choked

Mark 4:18 N-AFP
GRK: εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπειρόμενοι οὗτοί
NAS: among the thorns; these
KJV: sown among thorns; such as hear
INT: among the thorns are sown these

Luke 6:44 N-GFP
GRK: γὰρ ἐξ ἀκανθῶν συλλέγουσιν σῦκα
NAS: figs from thorns, nor
KJV: For of thorns men do not gather
INT: indeed from thorns do they gather figs

Luke 8:7 N-GFP
GRK: μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν καὶ συμφυεῖσαι
NAS: among the thorns; and the thorns
KJV: fell among thorns; and the thorns
INT: [the] midst of the thorns and having sprung up together

Luke 8:7 N-NFP
GRK: συμφυεῖσαι αἱ ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτό
NAS: the thorns; and the thorns grew
KJV: and the thorns sprang up with it,
INT: having sprung up together the thorns choked it

Luke 8:14 N-AFP
GRK: εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας πεσόν οὗτοί
NAS: among the thorns, these
KJV: that which fell among thorns are they,
INT: into the thorns has fallen these

John 19:2 N-GFP
GRK: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῦ
NAS: together a crown of thorns and put
KJV: a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his
INT: a crown of thorns put [it] on of him

Hebrews 6:8 N-AFP
GRK: ἐκφέρουσα δὲ ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους
NAS: but if it yields thorns and thistles,
KJV: that which beareth thorns and
INT: bringing forth however thorns and thistles

Strong's Greek 173
14 Occurrences

ἄκανθαι — 3 Occ.
ἀκάνθας — 6 Occ.
ἀκανθῶν — 5 Occ.