Lexical Summary sek: Booth, thicket, lair Original Word: שֵׂךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prick From cakak in the sense of suwk; a brier (as of a hedge) -- prick. see HEBREW cakak see HEBREW suwk NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a thorn NASB Translation pricks (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שֵׂךְ] noun [masculine] thorn; — plural שִׂכִּים Numbers 33:55 (P; "" צְנִינִם). Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingNumbers 33:55 records the only occurrence of שֵׂךְ. Immediately after recounting Israel’s wilderness journey, Moses issues a final command: “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you settle” (Numbers 33:55). The word translated “thorns” evokes a weapon-like splinter lodged in flesh—small yet relentless, impossible to ignore. Historical Background The warning comes on the plains of Moab just before Israel crosses the Jordan. Canaanite city-states practiced idolatry, temple prostitution, and child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31). Allowing such peoples to coexist alongside Israel would introduce spiritual compromise and political hostility. Archaeological strata at sites like Lachish and Hazor corroborate a patchwork of fortified Canaanite enclaves well into the Iron Age. The divine strategy was complete removal, not coexistence. Imagery of Thorns in the Old Testament While שֵׂךְ appears only here, “thorn” imagery saturates Scripture: • Joshua 23:13—“They will be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides.” Together these references establish thorns as symbols of persistent trouble arising from disobedience. Theological Themes 1. Holiness and Separation The command to expel idolatrous nations underscores God’s call for a holy people (Leviticus 20:26). Retaining ungodly influences guarantees ongoing spiritual irritation—just as a thorn continually pricks. 2. Consequences of Partial Obedience Numbers 33:55 anticipates Israel’s later history. From the Gibeonite treaty (Joshua 9) to Solomon’s foreign marriages (1 Kings 11), every tolerated compromise produced lasting harm. 3. Divine Covenant Protection Removal of pagan nations was not ethnic prejudice but covenant preservation. By eliminating the “thorn,” God shielded Israel from syncretism and maintained the line through which Messiah would come. Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes Paul adopts the metaphor: “a thorn in my flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). While different in context and language, the image of a continual irritant carries forward the Old Testament idea of God using discomfort to refine His servants. Jesus’ crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29) climaxes the motif—sin’s curse (Genesis 3:18) pressed onto the Redeemer’s brow so that God’s people might be free from its sting. Ministry Significance • Personal Sanctification Modern believers confront cultural pressures analogous to Canaan’s idolatry. Hidden sins, tolerated entertainments, or unbiblical ideologies become “thorns” that sap spiritual vitality. Immediate and decisive removal aligns with 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Get rid of the old leaven.” • Pastoral Leadership Church leaders must address tolerated sin within the congregation lest it become an institutional thorn (Hebrews 12:15). Numbers 33:55 provides precedent for decisive action rooted in love for the flock’s holiness. • Missional Purity Engaging the world without adopting its values reflects Jesus’ prayer: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). The ancient warning fuels contemporary calls to cultural discernment. Practical Reflections 1. Identify lingering compromises as Israel was told to identify remaining Canaanite strongholds. Through the single appearance of שֵׂךְ, Scripture offers a lasting lesson: whatever is left uncrucified will inevitably crucify our peace. Forms and Transliterations לְשִׂכִּים֙ לשכים lə·śik·kîm lesikKim ləśikkîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 33:55 HEB: תּוֹתִ֣ירוּ מֵהֶ֔ם לְשִׂכִּים֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וְלִצְנִינִ֖ם NAS: you let remain of them [will become] as pricks in your eyes KJV: you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, INT: let of them as pricks your eyes thorns 1 Occurrence |
    |