Reference: THISTLES AND THORNS
American
Under these terms, together with brambles, briers, and nettles, are included numerous troublesome plants, many of them with thorns, well fitted to try the husbandman's patience, Ge 3:18. Plants of this class were a symbol of desolation, Pr 24:31, and were often used as fuel, Ps 58:9; Ec 7:6; Isa 33:12. They also served for hedges, Ho 2:6. A petty village on the plain of Jericho is now protected against Arab horsemen by a hedge of thorny Nubk branches. Dr. Eli Smith, visiting the plain where Gideon once threatened to tear the flesh of the princes of Succoth with thorns and briers, noticed such plants there of remarkable size, some of the thistles rising above his head on horseback, Jg 8:7. Few of the Hebrew terms can now be affixed with certainty to particular varieties among the many found in Syria. The plant of which the thorny crown of the Savior was made, with the design to mock rather than to torture him, is supposed to have been the Zizyphus Spina Christi, a common tree with dark and glossy leaves, having many small and sharp spines on its round and pliant branches, Mt 27:29; Joh 19:2-3. Paul's "thorn in the flesh," 2Co 12:7-10, may have been some bodily infirmity, unfavorable to the success of his public ministrations. Compare Ga 4:13-14; 2Co 10:10.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and it shall bear thorns and thistles unto thee. And thou shalt eat the herbs of the field:
And Gideon said, "Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, I will tear the flesh of you with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers."
As a green thorn kindled with fire goeth out before your pots be made hot; even so, let a furious rage bring him to nought.
And lo, it was all covered with nettles, and stood full of thistles, and the stone wall was broken down.
For the laughing of fools is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. And that is but a vain thing.
And the people shall be burnt like lime, and as thorns burn that are hewn off, and cast in the fire."
"But I will hedge her way with thorns, and stop it, that she shall not find her footsteps:
and plaited a crown of thorns and put upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowed their knees before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews,"
And the soldiers wound a crown of thorns and put it on his head. And they did on him a purple garment, and said, "Hail King of the Jews." And they smote him on the face.
And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given unto me of God unquietness of the flesh: the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure. For this thing besought I the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me, read more. and he said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect through weakness." Very gladly therefore will I rejoice of my weakness, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore have I delectation in infirmities, in rebukes, in need, in persecutions, in anguish, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
Ye know well how that through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which I suffered by reason of my flesh, ye despised not, neither abhorred, but received me as an angel of God: yea as Christ Jesus.