Genesis 3:18

Genesis 3:18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

a. ASV:  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

B. YLT: And thorn and bramble it doth bring forth to thee, and thou hast eaten the herb of the field;

c. Amplified Bible Classic: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field.

d. Septuagint: Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Thorns and thistles shall it sprout for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.

1. “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…”

a. Thorns [also] [Strong: 6975 qôwts, kotse; or קֹץ qôts; from H6972 (in the sense of pricking); a thorn:—thorn.

1). Adam Clark’s Commentary: As to thorns, the bramble, which occurs so commonly, and is so mischievous, is a sufficient proof how well the means are calculated to secure the end.  The genista, or spinosa vulgaris, called by some furze, by others whins, is allowed to be one of the most mischievous shrubs on the face of the earth. Scarcely any thing can grow near it, and it is so thick set with prickles that it is almost impossible to touch it without being wounded.  It is very prolific; almost half the year it is covered with flowers which produce pods filled with seeds. Besides. it shoots out roots far and wide, from which suckers and young plants are continually springing up, which produce others in their turn.

b. [and] thistles [Strong: 1863 dardar, dar-dar'; of uncertain derivation; a thorn:—thistle.] [Gesenius: a luxuriantly growing but useless plant.]

c. [shall it] bring forth [to thee] [Strong: 6779 tsâmach, tsaw-makh'; a primitive root; to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative):—bear, bring forth, (cause to, make to) bud (forth), (cause to, make to) grow (again, up), (cause to) spring (forth, up).]

2. ‘...and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;’

a. [and thou shalt] eat [Strong: 398  ʼâkal, aw-kal'; a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):—× at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, × freely, × in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, × quite.]

b. [the] herb [Strong: 6212 ʻeseb, eh'seb; from an unused root meaning to glisten (or be green); grass (or any tender shoot):—grass, herb.]

c. [of the] field [Strong: 7704 sâdeh, saw-deh'; or שָׂדַי sâday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat):—country, field, ground, land, soil, × wild.

1). Adam Clark’s Commentary: In the curse pronounced on the ground there is much more implied than generally appears. The amazing fertility of some of the most common thistles and thorns renders them the most proper instruments for the fulfilment of this sentence against man. Thistles multiply enormously; a species called the Carolina sylvestris bears ordinarily from 20 to 40 heads, each containing from 100 to 150 seeds.

2). Gordon Lindsay, Old Testament Series, Volume 1-A. Page 20, “The whole earth now came under the curse. In the Garden of Eden, no weeds grew. Now, noxious thorns and thistles would spring up everywhere.”

3). Because of the fall of man, the physical reality of thorns and thistles in the earth is a reflection of the spiritual hindrances that can be in our lives to prevent us from being obedient to God.

a). Matthew 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.