Greek word · G5146

τρίβολος

tribolos

thistle

Literally 'three-pointed'. It names (1) the caltrop, a military device of iron spikes thrown on the ground, and (2) plants with spiny heads or burrs, such as the ground-creeping Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine) or star-thistles (Centaurea).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τρίβολος, -ου, ὁ

[in LXX: Genesis 3:18, Hosea 10:8 (דַּרְדַּר), 2 Samuel 12:31 (חָרִיץ), Proverbs 22:5 (צֵן)* ;]

a thistle: Matthew 7:16, Hebrews 6:8.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 7:16

Range of meaning

Literally 'three-pointed'. It names (1) the caltrop, a military device of iron spikes thrown on the ground, and (2) plants with spiny heads or burrs, such as the ground-creeping Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine) or star-thistles (Centaurea). The exact botanical species cannot be fixed with certainty.

Against the English

All the main English versions say 'thistles', which is adequate. The word suggests something that wounds anyone who treads on it or grabs it, and this fits the 'ravenous wolves' of v.15.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Genesis 3:18 and Hosea 10:8 (paired with akantha). Hebrews 6:8. Classical writers use it both for the plant and for the military caltrop.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 7:16 τριβόλων thistles

    By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

    Here: Literally 'three-pointed'. It names spiny weeds such as the caltrop plant or star-thistle, and also the iron spikes scattered against cavalry. Paired with 'thorns' it recalls the cursed ground of Genesis 3:18 ('thorns and thistles').

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 6:8 τριβόλους thistles

    But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

    Here: A spiny plant (literally "three-pointed"; the same word named the iron spikes scattered against cavalry). Useless and painful to anyone working the field.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.