τρίβολος

a thistle

Definition

The Greek word τρίβολος (tribolos) refers to a prickly, thorny plant, most accurately translated as a 'thistle' or 'bramble.' In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to represent something worthless, harmful, or cursed, in contrast to fruitful, good plants. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus uses it in the context of discerning false prophets, stating that thorny plants like the tribolos do not produce good fruit. In Hebrews 6:8, it describes land that bears 'thorns and thistles' instead of a useful crop, symbolizing those who fall away from faith and are near to being cursed.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in agricultural metaphors illustrating spiritual truth. In Matthew 7:16, it is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, teaching about discerning character by its 'fruits.' In Hebrews 6:8, it is used in a warning passage about apostasy, contrasting blessed, fruitful land with land that produces worthless, cursed thorns. Both usages employ the thistle as a symbol of unproductiveness and divine rejection.

Etymology

Derived from τρίς (tris, meaning 'three') and βόλος (bolos, meaning 'point' or 'sting'), the word literally means 'three-pointed' or 'three-pronged,' likely describing the plant's characteristic three-pronged spines or seed heads. This root meaning emphasizes its sharp, harmful nature.

Semantic Range

The word τρίβολος is theologically significant as it symbolizes spiritual barrenness and divine judgment. In Jesus' teaching (Matthew 7:16), it helps illustrate the principle that true faith produces good works, while false teaching is spiritually fruitless and harmful. In Hebrews 6:8, it powerfully depicts the serious state of those who have experienced God's blessings but ultimately reject Him, producing only what is cursed. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying the sharp contrast between life-giving faith and dead, worthless religion.

In the ancient Mediterranean world, thistles and thorns were common, invasive weeds that choked out crops in cultivated fields. They were universally recognized as symbols of futility, nuisance, and cursed land (cf. Genesis 3:18). This cultural understanding makes Jesus' and the Hebrews author's metaphors immediately clear to their original audience: just as a farmer would reject and burn thorny plants, God rejects unfruitful spiritual lives.

ἄκανθα (akantha, G173) — a more general term for 'thorn' or 'thornbush,' used interchangeably in some contexts (e.g., the crown of thorns). σκόλοψ (skolops, G4647) — means 'stake' or 'thorn,' used metaphorically for a persistent affliction (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Word Details

Scripture References