Brushwood refers to small branches, twigs, and undergrowth that are often used for kindling or fuel. In biblical times, brushwood was a common resource for starting and maintaining fires, which were essential for cooking, warmth, and various other daily activities. The term "brushwood" is mentioned in the context of the Apostle Paul's shipwreck on the island of Malta, as recorded in the New Testament.

Biblical Reference:

In Acts 28:3, the Apostle Paul is described gathering brushwood after being shipwrecked: "Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and as he laid it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand" . This passage highlights the practical use of brushwood in creating a fire, which was necessary for warmth and possibly for cooking food after the shipwreck.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, where much of the biblical narrative takes place, wood was a valuable commodity. Larger pieces of wood were often reserved for construction and other significant uses, while brushwood served as a readily available source of fuel. The gathering of brushwood was a common task, often performed by women and children, as it was essential for daily life.

The use of brushwood in biblical times also underscores the simplicity and resourcefulness of the people. In a region where larger trees might not have been as abundant, brushwood provided a practical solution for everyday needs. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's provision, where even the simplest resources are used to meet the needs of His people.

Symbolic Significance:

While brushwood itself is not heavily laden with symbolic meaning in the Bible, its use in the Acts 28 narrative can be seen as a metaphor for the trials and challenges faced by believers. Just as Paul encountered a viper while performing a mundane task, Christians may face unexpected challenges in their daily lives. However, the incident also demonstrates God's protection and deliverance, as Paul was unharmed by the viper's bite, which astonished the onlookers and led to further opportunities for ministry.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the account of Paul and the brushwood can be seen as an illustration of God's sovereignty and care. Despite the shipwreck and the subsequent threat from the viper, God's plan for Paul was not thwarted. This serves as a reminder to believers of God's faithfulness and His ability to use even the most ordinary circumstances for His purposes.

In summary, brushwood in the Bible is a practical element that serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's provision, protection, and the unfolding of His divine plan through the lives of His people.1. (n.) Brush; a thicket or coppice of small trees and shrubs.

2. (n.) Small branches of trees cut off.

4298. prokopto -- to cut forward (a way), advance
... Phonetic Spelling: (prok-op'-to) Short Definition: I advance, make progress Definition:
(originally of the pioneer cutting his way through brushwood), I advance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4298.htm - 7k2003. hemes -- brushwood
... 2002, 2003. hemes. 2004 . brushwood. Transliteration: hemes Phonetic Spelling:
(haw-mawce') Short Definition: brushwood. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2003.htm - 5k

7754b. sokah -- branch, brushwood.
... sokah. 7755 . branch, brushwood. Transliteration: sokah Short Definition: branch.
Word Origin from the same as sok Definition branch, brushwood. ...
/hebrew/7754b.htm - 5k

7754a. sok -- branch, brushwood
... branch, brushwood. Transliteration: sok Short Definition: branch. Word Origin from
an unused word Definition branch, brushwood NASB Word Usage branch (2). ...
/hebrew/7754a.htm - 5k

7754. sowk -- branch, brushwood
... 7753, 7754. sowk. 7754a . branch, brushwood. Transliteration: sowk Phonetic
Spelling: (soke) Short Definition: bough. bough Or (feminine ...
/hebrew/7754.htm - 5k

Acts xxviii. 1
... if the wintry weather must destroy them. Then Paul having taken brushwood,
laid it on the fire. See how active he is; observe how ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily liv acts xxviii 1.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... It was mostly sand and desert. On some of the hills lived people in groups of
five to eight, like families, inhabiting huts made of brushwood. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

1875-1877. Mrs. Way's Sewing --Class for Jewesses --Bible Flower ...
... "Again the hedges, tipped with tiny coral buds, primroses, and daffodils peeping
up amid the brushwood, golden-eyed celandines and daisies lifting their sweet ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vi 1875-1877 mrs ways.htm

Transcriber's Note
... listed below. Inconsistent hyphenation: nowadays (now-a-days), brushwood
(brush-wood), footprints (foot-prints). Chapter I. "Under ...
//christianbookshelf.org/marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/transcribers note.htm

Kumaon.
... poor. There is a great extent of forest and brushwood. As the land slopes
towards the Bhabhur, the forest is very dense and varied. ...
/.../kennedy/life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xx kumaon.htm

No House of any Pretension to be Called a Palace is in the Least ...
... Near the house it was kept very trim and nice, and it was free of brushwood for
a long way in; but by degrees it got wild, and it grew wilder, and wilder, and ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 28 no house of.htm

The Foreign Missions and their Influence.
... Tobias Leupold, and abide the issue of the colloquy; and in the evening the two
young men took their usual stroll together among the brushwood clustering round ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vi the foreign missions.htm

After the Wreck
... In the former one, we see in Paul's activity in gathering his bundle of brushwood
an example of how he took the humblest duties on himself, and was not ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/after the wreck.htm

The Charm
... She made no reply, but going into another room, returned with her apron full of
dry brushwood and faggot; all of this she piled upon the fire, and produced a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/the charm.htm

The Bread of the Presence
... upon it. But let it rise as some tree above the brushwood until its topmost
branches are in the light, and then it is glorified. To ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the bread of the presence.htm

Brushwood (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Brushwood (9 Occurrences). ... Job 30:4 They are pulling off
the salt leaves from the brushwood, and making a meal of roots. (BBE). ...
/b/brushwood.htm - 9k

Brush-wood (1 Occurrence)
Brush-wood. Brushwood, Brush-wood. Brutal . Multi-Version Concordance
Brush-wood (1 Occurrence). ... (See JPS). Brushwood, Brush-wood. Brutal . Reference
/b/brush-wood.htm - 6k

Botany
... size, so that miles of country which, within the memory of many now living, were
forest are now either entirely treeless or covered with nothing but brushwood. ...
/b/botany.htm - 38k

Oak (22 Occurrences)
... "It covers the rocky hills of Palestine with a dense brushwood of trees from 8 to
12 feet high, branching from the base, thickly covered with small evergreen ...
/o/oak.htm - 33k

Tremble (92 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 64:1 O let the heavens be broken open and come down, so that the mountains
may be shaking before you, As when fire puts the brushwood in flames, or as ...
/t/tremble.htm - 34k

Kindleth (9 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 64:2 as when fire kindleth the brushwood, and the fire causeth the waters
to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may ...
/k/kindleth.htm - 9k

Kindles (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 64:2 as when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the waters to
boil; to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may ...
/k/kindles.htm - 8k

Nettles (5 Occurrences)
... Septuagint has phrugana agria, "wild brushwood," in Job, and certainly the association
with the "saltwort" and the retm, "broom," in the passage would best be ...
/n/nettles.htm - 9k

Noises (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Noises (4 Occurrences). Job 30:7 They make noises like
asses among the brushwood; they get together under the thorns. (BBE). ...
/n/noises.htm - 7k

Upland (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 17:6 For he will be like the brushwood in the upland, and will not see
when good comes; but his living-place will be in the dry places in the waste ...
/u/upland.htm - 8k

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