Lexical Summary qots: thorns, thorn, thorn bushes Original Word: קוֹץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thorn Or qots {kotse}; from quwts (in the sense of pricking); a thorn -- thorn. see HEBREW quwts NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a thorn, thornbush NASB Translation thorn (2), thorn bushes (1), thorns (9). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. קוֺץ noun masculineEzekiel 28:24 thornbush, thorn; — absolute ׳ק Genesis 3:18 +; plural קֹצִים Exodus 22:5 +, קוֺצִים Isaiah 33:12 +; construct קוֺצֵי Judges 8:7,16; — 1 thornbush, + דַּרְדַּר (q. v.) Genesis 3:18 (J), Hosea 10:8; + שָׁמִיד Isaiah 32:13; + בַּרְקָנִים (q. v.), הַמִדְבָּר ׳ק Judges 8:7,16; ׳ק alone Exodus 22:5 (E); בְּאֵשׁ קוֺצִים Psalm 118:12 (simile of foes); in various figurative, Isaiah 33:12; Jeremiah 4:3; Jeremiah 12:18. 2 thorn, fig, Ezekiel 28:24 (with מַכְאִב, see כאב; "" סִלּוֺן; q. v.); simile מֻנָד ׳כְּק 2 Samuel 23:6 (PerlesAnal.53 conjecture מֹץ, but see also נוד Hoph`al). Topical Lexicon Botanical and Cultural Background The noun denotes the woody, hard-stemmed squat shrub or bramble common to Israel’s semi-arid landscape. Its fast growth, sharp points, and combustible nature made it conspicuous to farmers, shepherds, and travelers. Because the plant offered no fruit, shade, or timber, ancient Israel consistently associated it with futility, danger, and speedy destruction. First Appearance: The Curse on the Ground (Genesis 3:18) Its inaugural mention follows humanity’s fall: “Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you” (Genesis 3:18). Here the plant embodies the radical shift from effortless abundance to laborious toil. Adam will still eat, but sweat and struggle now mediate every harvest. From the beginning, then, קוֹץ becomes a living witness to humanity’s alienation from God and to the creation’s frustrated longing for redemption (Romans 8:19–22). A Hazard to Life and Property (Exodus 22:6) The Mosaic Law accounts for the shrub’s flammability: “When a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes… the one who started the fire shall make restitution.” Casual negligence could turn this tinder into sweeping devastation. Israel’s civil legislation therefore used קוֹץ to teach personal responsibility and neighbor-love. Symbol of Brutal Oppression (Judges 8:7, 8:16; 2 Samuel 23:6) Gideon threatened Succoth, “I will tear your flesh with thorns of the wilderness” (Judges 8:7). Later he fulfilled his word, thrashing the city’s leaders with these painful branches (Judges 8:16). David likewise contrasted his loyal warriors with “the worthless—those who should be thrown away like thorns” (2 Samuel 23:6, paraphrase of’s imagery). The plant therefore illustrates the pain caused by treachery and the certainty of judgment on the unfaithful. Metaphor for Swarming Enemies (Psalm 118:12) “They swarmed around me like bees, but they were extinguished like burning thorns” (Psalm 118:12). Here the king recalls sudden attack and equally sudden deliverance. Thorns ignite quickly, flare brightly, and collapse to ash—an apt picture of hostile nations that rage for a moment and then disappear under the LORD’s hand (compare Isaiah 33:12). Indicator of National Desolation (Isaiah 32:13; Jeremiah 4:3; 12:13) Prophets describe covenant-breaking Israel as a once-cultivated field overrun by briars: The imagery exposes the irony of spiritual barrenness: abundant religious activity without obedience yields only prickles. Token of Imminent Judgment (Isaiah 33:12; Hosea 10:8) Isaiah warns that rebellious peoples “will be burned to lime, like cut thorns” (Isaiah 33:12). Hosea foresees Israel’s high places ruined so thoroughly that “thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars” (Hosea 10:8). In both cases קוֹץ signals God’s readiness to purge idolatry with devouring fire. Promise of Eschatological Removal (Ezekiel 28:24) “For the house of Israel will no longer have any pricking brier or painful thorn to afflict them” (Ezekiel 28:24). When the Lord re-gathers His people and vindicates His holiness, the persistent irritant disappears. The prophetic hope anticipates a new creation where the ground—once cursed—finally rests (Isaiah 55:13). Theological Thread 1. Curse: a reminder of Edenic loss. Ministry Implications • Preaching: קוֹץ underscores that self-reliance brings sterility, whereas repentance yields fruitfulness. The humble thorn therefore serves as a consistent biblical witness—from Eden to the New Jerusalem—testifying to both the tragedy of sin and the grandeur of redemption accomplished and promised by the LORD. Forms and Transliterations וְק֣וֹץ וְק֥וֹץ וְקֹצִ֣ים וקוץ וקצים כְּק֥וֹץ כקוץ ק֣וֹץ ק֥וֹץ קֹצִים֙ קוֹצִ֑ים קוֹצִ֥ים קוֹצִֽים׃ קוֹצֵ֥י קוץ קוצי קוצים קוצים׃ קצים kə·qō·wṣ keKotz kəqōwṣ Kotz koTzei koTzim qō·ṣîm qō·w·ṣê qō·w·ṣîm qō·wṣ qōṣîm qōwṣ qōwṣê qōwṣîm veKotz vekoTzim wə·qō·ṣîm wə·qō·wṣ wəqōṣîm wəqōwṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 3:18 HEB: וְק֥וֹץ וְדַרְדַּ֖ר תַּצְמִ֣יחַֽ NAS: Both thorns and thistles KJV: Thorns also and thistles INT: thorns and thistles shall grow Exodus 22:6 Judges 8:7 Judges 8:16 2 Samuel 23:6 Psalm 118:12 Isaiah 32:13 Isaiah 33:12 Jeremiah 4:3 Jeremiah 12:13 Ezekiel 28:24 Hosea 10:8 12 Occurrences |
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