קִמָּשׁוֹן
a prickly plant
Definition
קִמָּשׁוֹן refers to a specific type of prickly or thorny plant, likely a kind of thistle or bramble. It appears only in Proverbs 24:31, where it is used to describe the overgrown, neglected state of a lazy person's field. The word emphasizes the undesirable, invasive, and painful nature of the vegetation that results from neglect. While often translated generally as 'thorns,' it denotes a particular, dense thorny growth that chokes out cultivated plants.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Proverbs 24:31. It is employed in a wisdom context to paint a vivid picture of agricultural neglect and its consequences. The 'קִמָּשׁוֹן' grows over a field whose wall is broken down, symbolizing the ruin that comes from laziness and a lack of diligent care (Proverbs 24:30-34).
Etymology
The noun קִמָּשׁוֹן (qimmâshôwn) is derived from the root ק־מ־שׁ, which is related to the word קִמּוֹשׁ (qimmôsh, H7057), meaning 'nettle' or 'thorn.' This root family consistently conveys the idea of prickly, stinging, or irritating plants. The formation suggests an intensification or a specific type of such undesirable vegetation.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, קִמָּשׁוֹן carries theological weight in the wisdom literature. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual and practical consequences of sloth and moral neglect. Just as thorns choke a field, a life without diligent, God-honoring discipline leads to ruin and unfruitfulness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Proverbs 24 by connecting a concrete, agricultural image to a profound spiritual principle about stewardship and diligence.
In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, a field overrun with קִמָּשׁוֹן was a clear, visible sign of failure and poverty. It represented a loss of livelihood and security, as thorns rendered land unusable for growing food. This cultural understanding makes the proverb's warning about laziness immediately tangible and severe to its original audience.
קוֹץ (qôts, H6975) — a more general term for 'thorn' or 'thistle,' often used symbolically for trouble or judgment. סִלּוֹן (ṣillôwn, H6796) — a 'thorn' or 'prick,' often implying a sharp point or hindrance. דַּרְדַּר (dardar, H1863) — 'thistle,' specifically mentioned in Genesis 3:18 as a consequence of the Fall.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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