Thorn-bushes, often referred to simply as "thorns" in the Bible, are plants that produce sharp, pointed projections. These plants are frequently mentioned in Scripture, symbolizing various spiritual and moral lessons. They are emblematic of sin, suffering, and the consequences of disobedience to God.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

1. Curse and Consequence of Sin: Thorn-bushes first appear in the biblical narrative as part of the curse pronounced upon the ground after Adam and Eve's disobedience. In Genesis 3:17-18 , God declares to Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field." Here, thorns symbolize the hardship and toil that result from sin, serving as a constant reminder of humanity's fallen state.

2. Obstacles and Challenges: In the parable of the sower, Jesus uses thorn-bushes to illustrate the spiritual dangers that can choke the word of God. In Matthew 13:22 , He explains, "The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Thorns, in this context, represent the distractions and temptations that prevent spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

3. Judgment and Desolation: Thorn-bushes are also used to depict desolation and divine judgment. In Isaiah 34:13 , the prophet describes the desolation of Edom: "Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her fortresses. She will become a haunt for jackals, a dwelling for ostriches." The presence of thorns signifies a land abandoned and under judgment, reflecting the consequences of turning away from God.

4. Contrast with Righteousness: The Bible often contrasts thorn-bushes with fruitful plants to highlight the difference between the wicked and the righteous. In Hebrews 6:7-8 , the author writes, "For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned." This passage underscores the importance of bearing spiritual fruit and the peril of spiritual barrenness.

Notable Biblical References

· The Burning Bush: One of the most famous references to a thorn-bush is the burning bush encountered by Moses in Exodus 3. Although not explicitly described as a thorn-bush in the text, the Hebrew word "seneh" used here is often associated with thorny plants. This miraculous event, where the bush burns but is not consumed, signifies God's holy presence and His call to Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

· Crown of Thorns: In the New Testament, a crown of thorns is placed on Jesus' head during His crucifixion, as described in Matthew 27:29 : "And they twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and put a staff in His right hand. Then they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'" This act of mockery and suffering highlights the depth of Christ's sacrifice and the weight of humanity's sin that He bore.

Thorn-bushes, therefore, serve as a multifaceted symbol throughout the Bible, representing the consequences of sin, the challenges of spiritual life, and the profound truths of redemption and judgment.7898. shayith -- thornbushes
... 7897, 7898. shayith. 7899 . thornbushes. Transliteration: shayith Phonetic
Spelling: (shah'-yith) Short Definition: thorns. Word ...
/hebrew/7898.htm - 6k

5285. naatsuts -- a thorn bush
... Definition: bush. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a thorn bush NASB
Word Usage thorn bush (1), thorn bushes (1). thorn. From ...
/hebrew/5285.htm - 6k

6975. qots -- a thorn, thornbush
... thorns. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a thorn, thornbush NASB
Word Usage thorn (2), thorn bushes (1), thorns (9). thorn. ...
/hebrew/6975.htm - 6k

5518b. sir -- a thorn, hook
... Word Origin from the same as sir Definition a thorn, hook NASB Word Usage hooks
(1), thorn bushes (1), thorns (3). 5518a, 5518b. sir. 5519 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5518b.htm - 5k

Seed among Thorns
... No sensible sower would cast his seed among growing thorn-bushes, and we must
necessarily understand that the description in this verse is not meant to give us ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/seed among thorns.htm

Pilgrims of the Victorious Life
... The flowers are free to all pilgrims; but the road to the garden is a very rough
road, and thorn-bushes fringe it for a considerable distance. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter thirteen pilgrims of the.htm

On a Holy Martyr's Day
... consists in the very overcoming of temptation, from which we may draw out a hidden
spiritual sweetness, as the bees suck honey from the thorn bushes as well as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxxi on a holy.htm

Yoked Service.
... He treads down the pathway through every thicket, pushes aside the thorn-bushes,
and clears the way, and then says with that taking way of His, "Come along ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/yoked service.htm

Sermon on a Martyr's Day
... consists in the very overcoming of temptation, from which we may draw out a hidden
spiritual sweetness, as the bees suck honey from the thorn-bushes as well as ...
/.../xxvii sermon on a martyrs.htm

Returning Our Call.
... It's been hard, heroic work. The pathfinder has often gotten his hands and face
badly torn by the thick brambly thorn bushes as he pushed resolutely on. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/returning our call.htm

Discourse on the Good Shepherd.
... second. The sheepfolds of the East are roofless enclosures, made of loose
stone, or surrounded by thornbushes. They have but one door. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxii discourse on the good.htm

God's Wooing.
... the mountains, down the ravines and gullies, eagerly hunting for His lost man, getting
hands, and face, and more, torn on the brambly thorn bushes, and losing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/gods wooing.htm

Letter xxxi (AD 1132) to the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York ...
... to their former monastery, Thurstan gave them in the neighbourhood of Ripon a spot
of ground previously uncultivated, covered with thorn bushes, and situated ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xxxi a d 1132 to.htm

Book Two He Concentrates Here on his Sixteenth Year, a Year of ...
... parents' straitened finances. The thornbushes of lust grew rank about my
head, and there was no hand to root them out. Indeed, when ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book two he concentrates here.htm

Thornbushes (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Thornbushes (6 Occurrences). Matthew 7:16 From their
fruits ye shall know them; do 'men' gather from thorns grapes? ...
/t/thornbushes.htm - 7k

Thorn-bushes (1 Occurrence)
Thorn-bushes. Thornbushes, Thorn-bushes. Thorn-fence . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Thornbushes, Thorn-bushes. Thorn-fence . Reference Bible.
/t/thorn-bushes.htm - 6k

Thorn-bush (5 Occurrences)
Thorn-bush. Thornbush, Thorn-bush. Thornbushes . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Thornbush, Thorn-bush. Thornbushes . Reference Bible.
/t/thorn-bush.htm - 8k

Lime (4 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word so rendered means "boiling" or "effervescing." From Isaiah 33:12
it appears that lime was made in a kiln lighted by thorn-bushes. ...
/l/lime.htm - 11k

Genneseret
... plain. It was largely overgrown with thorn-bushes, and it yielded one of
the finest crops of thistles in the country. Cultivation ...
/g/genneseret.htm - 9k

Gennesaret (3 Occurrences)
... plain. It was largely overgrown with thorn-bushes, and it yielded one of
the finest crops of thistles in the country. Cultivation ...
/g/gennesaret.htm - 11k

Thorn-fence (1 Occurrence)
Thorn-fence. Thorn-bushes, Thorn-fence. Thorn-hedge . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Thorn-bushes, Thorn-fence. Thorn-hedge . Reference Bible.
/t/thorn-fence.htm - 6k

Seneh (1 Occurrence)
... great cliffs between which ran the gorge of Michmash (1 Samuel 14:4). The name means
"acacia," and may have been given to it from the thornbushes growing upon ...
/s/seneh.htm - 7k

Hedge (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A thicket of bushes, usually thornbushes; especially, such a thicket planted
as a fence between any two portions of land; and also any sort of ...
/h/hedge.htm - 12k

Land (19790 Occurrences)
... plain. It was largely overgrown with thorn-bushes, and it yielded one of
the finest crops of thistles in the country. Cultivation ...
/l/land.htm - 21k

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