Lexical Summary naatsuts: Thorn, thornbush Original Word: נַעֲצוּץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thorn From an unused root meaning to prick; probably a brier; by implication, a thicket of thorny bushes -- thorn. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a thorn bush NASB Translation thorn bush (1), thorn bushes (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נַעֲצוּץ noun [masculine] thorn-bush (on form compare BaNB 213); — absolute ׳נ Isaiah 55:13; plural נַעֲצוּצִים Isaiah 7:19. Topical Lexicon Botanical and Cultural Setting The noun refers to a hardy, woody shrub common in the semi-arid hills of ancient Israel. Such plants protect themselves with sharp spines, thrive in neglected ground, and are difficult to uproot. In agrarian life they symbolized unproductivity and neglect; fields overrun with thornbushes were a visible sign that no healthy crop could flourish there (compare Proverbs 24:30-31). Usage in Isaiah’s Prophecies Isaiah employs the word twice, each time framing a wider prophetic message. • Isaiah 7:19 pictures invading armies swarming “in all the thornbushes”. Here thornbushes mark terrain that is wild and untended—an apt setting for the chaos of judgment falling on an unfaithful nation. • Isaiah 55:13 contrasts coming redemption: “Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow”. The same plant that earlier stood amid judgment is now displaced by ever-green, nobler trees when God’s salvation brings creation to bloom. Symbolism of Judgment and Blessing Thorns first enter Scripture in Genesis 3:18 as part of the curse on the ground. Throughout the Bible they signal frustration, pain, and divine reproof (Numbers 33:55; Hebrews 6:8). Isaiah’s pair of images follows this pattern: thornbushes mark the land under judgment, yet their removal heralds reversal of the curse. The prophet moves from devastation (chapters 7–39) to consolation (chapters 40–66), using the thornbush to tie together sin’s consequences and God’s gracious renewal. Historical Significance Seventh-century B.C. Judah faced external threats from Assyria and internal decline in covenant fidelity. Thorn-filled fields would have been a familiar sight during wartime neglect and economic hardship. Isaiah’s hearers could visually imagine foreign soldiers streaming through abandoned, overgrown land and later dream of God transforming that same wilderness into cultivated beauty. Theological Implications 1. Continuity of the Curse Theme: From Eden to Exile, thorns trace the storyline of human rebellion. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Thornbush imagery offers a vivid way to highlight the gravity of sin and the breadth of redemption, moving congregations from conviction to hope. Summary Although occurring only twice, the word serves as a theological hinge in Isaiah, bridging judgment and renewal. It stands as a miniature testimony that every detail of Scripture, no matter how obscure, contributes to the unified message of creation’s fall and God’s redemptive triumph. Forms and Transliterations הַֽנַּעֲצוּץ֙ הַנַּהֲלֹלִֽים׃ הנהללים׃ הנעצוץ han·na·‘ă·ṣūṣ han·na·hă·lō·lîm hanna‘ăṣūṣ hannaaTzutz hannahaloLim hannahălōlîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 7:19 HEB: הַנַּ֣עֲצוּצִ֔ים וּבְכֹ֖ל הַנַּהֲלֹלִֽים׃ NAS: on all the thorn bushes and on all KJV: of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes. INT: the watering all the thorn Isaiah 55:13 2 Occurrences |
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