ἄκανθ-α G0173
Thorn, thorn-bush — any thorny or prickly plant; used literally and figuratively of obstacles and judgment
The Greek ἄκανθα (akantha) covers thorns and thorny plants broadly, from thistles to brambles. In Jesus' teaching, thorns choke the seed sown among them (Matt 13:7, 22), and grapes are not gathered from thorn-bushes (Matt 7:16; Luke 6:44) — images instantly recognizable across Mediterranean and Near Eastern agriculture. The crown of thorns (Matt 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2, 5) transforms a botanical nuisance into a symbol of mockery and suffering. Spanish 'espinas' and French 'épines' both preserve the sharp, painful connotation. The word echoes Genesis 3:18, where thorns first appear as a consequence of the Fall.
Senses
1. thorns — Any thorny or prickly plant — thistles, brambles, or thorn-bushes — used in parabolic teaching about spiritual receptivity (the seed among thorns, Matt 13:7, 22; Mark 4:7, 18; Luke 8:7, 14), proverbial wisdom about recognizing true character (Matt 7:16; Luke 6:44), and the soldiers' crown of thorns placed on Jesus (Matt 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2, 5). The Hebrews 6:8 usage echoes Genesis 3:18's curse. Spanish 'espinas' and German 'Dornen' carry the same agrarian and symbolic weight. 14×
AR["أَشواكُ", "أَشواكِ", "أَشوَاكُ", "أَشوَاكِ", "الشَّوكِ", "الشَّوْكُ", "الشَّوْكِ", "شَوكٍ", "شَوكِ", "شَوْكًا", "شَوْكٍ"]·ben["কাঁটা", "কাঁটা,", "কাঁটাগাছ", "কাঁটাগাছে", "কাঁটাগাছের", "কাঁটাঝোপ", "কাঁটাঝোপে", "কাঁটায়", "কাঁটায়,", "কাঁটার", "কাঁটার,"]·DE["Dorn", "Dornen"]·EN["thorns"]·FR["épine"]·heb["קוֹצִים"]·HI["कअन्ते", "कअन्तोन-पर", "कअन्तोन-मेइन", "काँटों", "काँटों-से", "कांटे", "कांटों", "कांटों-के", "कांटों-ने", "के"]·ID["duri", "itu", "semak-duri", "semak-duri,"]·IT["akanthas", "spine"]·jav["eri", "eri,"]·KO["가시", "가시나무들", "가시나무들과", "가시나무들에", "가시나무들이", "가시덤불-위에", "가시덤불에", "가시덤불이", "가시들"]·PT["espinhos", "espinhos,"]·RU["терние", "тернии", "терний", "терний,", "терния", "терновника"]·ES["espinas", "espinos"]·SW["miiba", "miiba,"]·TR["dikenler", "dikenler,", "dikenlerden", "dikenleri", "dikenlerin", "dikenlerin,", "dikenlerin-arasına", "dikenlerin-arasına,"]·urd["جمع-کرتے", "کانٹوں", "کانٹوں-میں", "کانٹوں-نے", "کانٹوں-کا", "کانٹوں-کے", "کانٹے"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἄκανθ-α [ᾰκ], ης, ἡ, (ἀκή A) thorn, prickle, Refs 4th c.BC+ __1 any thorny or prickly plant (in Refs 8th c.BC+ probably Eryngium campestre), Refs 5th c.BC+ no thistles, i.e. 'an easy job', Refs 5th c.BC+ —special kinds: ἄ. Ἀραβική smaller milk-thistle, Notobasis syriaca, Refs 1st c.AD+; ἄ. βασιλική fish-thistle, Cnicus Acarna, Refs 4th c.BC+; ἄ. Ἰνδική, = Balsamodendron Mukul, Refs; ἄ. λευκή…