Original Word: ἄκανθα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: akantha
Pronunciation: ä'-kan-thä
Phonetic Spelling: (ak'-an-thah)
Definition: Thorn
Meaning: a thorn-bush, prickly plant; a thorn.

Word Origin: From the Greek word "ake" meaning "a point" or "spike."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H5518 (סִיר, sir) - thorn, brier

- H6975 (קוֹץ, qots) - thorn, thornbush

Usage: The term "akantha" refers to a thorn or thornbush. In the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to describe obstacles, difficulties, or things that cause pain and suffering. Thorns are frequently associated with the consequences of sin and the fallen state of the world.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near East, thorns were a common part of the landscape and were often used symbolically in literature and speech. Thorns were seen as a curse, stemming from the Genesis account where thorns and thistles were part of the curse upon the ground after the Fall (Genesis 3:18). In the Greco-Roman world, thorns were also used in the construction of crowns, such as the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head during His crucifixion, symbolizing mockery and suffering.

Word Origin
from aké (a point, edge)
Definition
a prickly plant, thorn
NASB Translation
thorn (1), thorns (13).

STRONGS NT 173: ἄκανθα

ἄκανθα, (ης, ἡ (ἀκή a point (but see in ἀκμή));

a. a thorn bramble-bush, brier: Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:44; Hebrews 6:8; εἰς τάς ἀκάνθας i. e. among the seeds of thorns, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:7 (L margin: ἐπί), 18 (Tdf. ἐπί); Luke 8:14 (Luke 8:7 ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν); ἐπί τάς ἀκάνθας, i. e. upon ground in which seeds of thorns were lying hidden, Matthew 13:7.

b. a thorny plant: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν, Matthew 27:29; John 19:2 — for bare thorns might have caused delirium or even death; what species of plant is referred to, is not clear. Some boldly read ἀκανθῶν, from ἄκανθος, acanthus, bear's foot; but the meaning of ἄκανθα is somewhat comprehensive even in secular writings cf. the classical Greek Lexicons under the word (On the see BB. DD. under the word, and for references McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia.)

thorn.

Probably from the same as akmen; a thorn -- thorn.

see GREEK akmen

άκανθα ακανθαι άκανθαι ἄκανθαι ακάνθαις άκανθαν ακανθας ακάνθας ἀκάνθας ακάνθης ακανθων ακανθών ἀκανθῶν akanthai ákanthai akanthas akánthas akanthon akanthôn akanthōn akanthō̂nInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts