Lexical Summary tribolos: Thistle, thorn, brier Original Word: τρίβολος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance brier, thistle. From treis and belos; properly, a crow-foot (three-pronged obstruction in war), i.e. (by analogy) a thorny plant (caltrop) -- brier, thistle. see GREEK treis see GREEK belos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom treis and belos Definition a thistle NASB Translation thistles (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5146: τρίβολοςτρίβολος, τριβολου, ὁ (τρεῖς and βάλλω ((cf. βέλος), three-pointed)), a thistle, a prickly wild plant, hurtful to other plants: Matthew 7:16; Hebrews 6:8. (Aristophanes, others; the Sept. for דַּרְדַּר, Genesis 3:18; Hosea 10:8; for צְנִינִים thorns, Proverbs 22:5.) (Cf. B. D. under the word, Thorns and Thistles, 4; Löw, Aram. Pflanzennamen, § 302.) Topical Lexicon Botanical and Cultural Background Derived from a Mediterranean weed known for its spiny burrs, the plant behind Strong’s 5146 flourished in arid soils and disturbed ground. Shepherds dreaded its prickles in their flocks’ wool; farmers cursed it for invading grain fields. Romans even adapted the burr’s three-pointed shape into a small iron caltrop scattered on roads to cripple cavalry. Thus, by the first century the word evoked both agricultural nuisance and painful hazard—a perfect metaphor for fruitlessness and harm. Old Testament Echoes Although Strong’s 5146 appears only in the New Testament, its imagery is deeply rooted in earlier Scripture. After the fall, God warned Adam, “Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you” (Genesis 3:18). Subsequent writers employ similar language to portray judgment (Isaiah 5:6; Hosea 10:8) and the futility of wickedness (Proverbs 24:30-31). When the Septuagint translators encountered Hebrew terms for thorny plants, they sometimes chose the cognate Greek term, laying groundwork for the New Testament writers to adopt the same metaphor. New Testament Usage 1. Matthew 7:16—Jesus contrasts genuine disciples with false prophets: “By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?”. The juxtaposition of nourishing fruit and painful burrs underscores the impossibility of hypocritical lives producing righteous outcomes. Symbolic Significance • Sterility—The plant bears no edible fruit, mirroring a life void of Spirit-produced righteousness (Galatians 5:22-23). Historical Interpretation Early church commentators such as Chrysostom read Matthew 7:16 as a call to discernment, asserting that doctrine and character must align. Reformation expositors highlighted Hebrews 6:8 while debating perseverance, insisting that genuine faith cannot remain barren. Modern agricultural archaeology confirms how relentless such weeds were in ancient Palestine, lending realism to the biblical warnings. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching—Use the image to press for self-examination; external profession without inward transformation cannot conceal the absence of fruit. Gospel Connection The crown of thorns pressed upon Christ (Matthew 27:29) embodies the curse He bore. By shedding His blood, He opened the way for barren ground to become “a fruitful field” (Isaiah 32:15). Union with Him turns once-worthless soil into a vineyard yielding “thirtyfold, sixtyfold, a hundredfold” (Matthew 13:8). Key Theological Insight Fruitlessness is not a minor flaw but evidence of a field still under the curse. In contrast, the gospel supplies both the seed (the Word) and the rain (the Spirit) necessary for transformative growth, ensuring that those truly rooted in Christ will not remain infested with tribolos. Forms and Transliterations τρίβολοι τριβόλοις τριβολους τριβόλους τριβολων τριβόλων tribolon tribolōn tribólon tribólōn tribolous tribólousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 7:16 N-GMPGRK: ἢ ἀπὸ τριβόλων σῦκα NAS: figs from thistles, are they? KJV: figs of thistles? INT: or from thistles figs Hebrews 6:8 N-AMP Strong's Greek 5146 |
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