The term "bramble" refers to a thorny shrub or bush, often associated with wild, uncultivated areas. In the Bible, the bramble is used metaphorically and appears in various contexts, symbolizing different spiritual and moral lessons.

Biblical References:

1. Judges 9:14-15 : The most notable mention of the bramble is found in the parable of Jotham, the son of Gideon, in the Book of Judges. After Abimelech, Gideon's son, is made king, Jotham tells a parable to the people of Shechem. In this parable, the trees seek a king to rule over them. After the olive tree, fig tree, and vine refuse the offer, the trees turn to the bramble. The bramble accepts, saying, "If you truly wish to anoint me as your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon." (Judges 9:14-15). Here, the bramble represents a worthless and potentially harmful leader, highlighting the dangers of choosing unworthy rulers.

2. Isaiah 34:13 : In Isaiah's prophecy against Edom, the desolation of the land is described with imagery of thorns and brambles overtaking the palaces and fortresses: "Thorns will overgrow her citadels, nettles and brambles her fortresses. She will become a haunt for jackals, a dwelling for ostriches." (Isaiah 34:13). The bramble symbolizes desolation and abandonment, a consequence of divine judgment.

3. Proverbs 24:30-31 : The Book of Proverbs uses the imagery of a neglected field overgrown with thorns and brambles to illustrate the consequences of laziness and neglect: "I went past the field of a sluggard and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down." (Proverbs 24:30-31). The bramble here serves as a metaphor for the spiritual and moral decay that results from a lack of diligence and wisdom.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, the bramble often symbolizes negative qualities such as worthlessness, danger, and desolation. It serves as a warning against poor leadership, spiritual neglect, and the consequences of sin. The bramble's thorny nature and its association with wild, untamed areas make it an apt metaphor for the challenges and obstacles that arise from turning away from God's guidance.

The use of the bramble in Jotham's parable is particularly poignant, as it contrasts the bramble's lowly status with the noble trees that refused kingship. This highlights the folly of choosing leaders who lack integrity and wisdom, a lesson that resonates with the biblical theme of seeking God's will in leadership and governance.

Overall, the bramble serves as a powerful symbol in Scripture, reminding believers of the importance of choosing righteousness and wisdom in all aspects of life.Bramble

[THORNS]

(1.) Hebrew atad, Judges 9:14; rendered "thorn," Psalm 58:9. The LXX. and Vulgate render by rhamnus, a thorny shrub common in Palestine, resembling the hawthorn.

(2.) Hebrew hoah, Isaiah 34:13 (R.V. "thistles"); "thickets" in 1 Samuel 13:6; "thistles" in 2 Kings 14:9, 2 Chronicles 25:18, Job 31:40; "thorns" in 2 Chronicles 33:11, Cant. 2:2, Hosea 9:6. The word may be regarded as denoting the common thistle, of which there are many species which encumber the corn-fields of Palestine. (see THORNS.)

1. (n.) Any plant of the genus Rubus, including the raspberry and blackberry. Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub.

2. (n.) The brambling or bramble finch.

BRAMBLE

bram'-b'-l.

See THORNS.

942. batos -- a bramble bush
... a bramble bush. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
batos Phonetic Spelling: (bat'-os) Short Definition: a thorn bush or bramble ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/942.htm - 6k329. atad -- a bramble, buckthorn, also a city in Canaan
... 328, 329. atad. 330 . a bramble, buckthorn, also a city in Canaan. Transliteration:
atad Phonetic Spelling: (aw-tawd') Short Definition: bramble. ...
/hebrew/329.htm - 6k

2336. choach -- briar, bramble, hook, ring, fetter
... choach. 2337 . briar, bramble, hook, ring, fetter. Transliteration: choach Phonetic
Spelling: (kho'-akh) Short Definition: bush. ... bramble, thistle, thorn. ...
/hebrew/2336.htm - 6k

5572. seneh -- perhaps blackberry bush
... Word Usage bush (6). bush. From an unused root meaning to prick; a bramble --
bush. 5571, 5572. seneh. 5573 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5572.htm - 5k

2738. charul -- (a kind of weed), perhaps chickpea
... Or (shortened) charul {khaw-rool'}; apparently, a passive participle of an unused
root probably meaning to be prickly; properly, pointed, ie A bramble or other ...
/hebrew/2738.htm - 6k

The Bramble-Bush King
... THE BRAMBLE-BUSH KING. There is ... king. Finally the trees asked the bramble
to accept the position, and the bramble gladly agreed. The ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the bramble-bush king.htm

The Bramble and the Agnos the Symbol of Chastity; the Four Gospels ...
... Chapter III."The Bramble and the Agnos the Symbol of Chastity; The Four Gospels,
that Is, Teachings or Laws, Instructing to Salvation. ...
/.../chapter iii the bramble and the.htm

The Law Useless for Salvation; the Last Law of Chastity under the ...
... Discourse X."Domnina. Chapter IV."The Law Useless for Salvation; The Last
Law of Chastity Under the Figure of the Bramble. And ...
/.../chapter iv the law useless for.htm

The Allegory of the Trees Demanding a King, in the Book of Judges ...
... Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint ...
/.../chapter ii the allegory of the.htm

The Crowning of Abimelech
... Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii the crowning of abimelech.htm

Judged by Fruit
... For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs,
nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.' (Luke 6:43, 44.). ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xi judged by fruit.htm

The Banquet of the Ten Virgins, or Concerning Chastity
... Chapter III.--The Bramble and the Agnos the Symbol of Chastity; The Four Gospels,
that Is, Teachings or Laws, Instructing to Salvation. ...
/.../methodius/the banquet of the ten virgins or concerning chastity/

Psalm LVIII.
... 14. "Before that the bramble [2204] bringeth forth your thorns: as though living,
as though in anger, it shall drink them up" (ver.9). What is the bramble? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lviii.htm

On Earthly Things
... The bramble bush is, as is sometimes thought, a prefiguration of the Blessed Theotokos,
because it is as if he sent forth the salvation of human flesh like a ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iii on earthly things.htm

Chapter l
... The place where this funeral train came to a standstill was "Goren Atad." Now g??ren
is a "threshing floor," and 'atadh signifies "bramble or buckthorn." Yet ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter l.htm

Bramble (7 Occurrences)
... Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub. 2. (n.) The brambling or bramble finch. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BRAMBLE. bram'-b'-l. See THORNS. ...
/b/bramble.htm - 9k

Bush (14 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BUSH. (1) (ceneh, Exodus 3:2-4 Deuteronomy
33:16; batos, Mark 12:26 Luke 6:44, "bramble bush"; 20:37; Acts 7:30, 35. ...
/b/bush.htm - 19k

Jotham (26 Occurrences)
... Shechem, to make Abimelech king," from one of the heights of Mount Gerizim he protested
against their doing so in the earliest parable, that of the bramble-king ...
/j/jotham.htm - 25k

Devoureth (27 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:15 And the bramble saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me
for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not -- fire cometh ...
/d/devoureth.htm - 14k

Cedars (37 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:15 "The bramble said to the trees,'If in truth you anoint me king over
you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of ...
/c/cedars.htm - 18k

Shade (67 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:15 "The bramble said to the trees,'If in truth you anoint me king over
you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of ...
/s/shade.htm - 31k

Devour (118 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:15 "The bramble said to the trees,'If in truth you anoint me king over
you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of ...
/d/devour.htm - 37k

Shadow (72 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over
you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come ...
/s/shadow.htm - 35k

Trees (179 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:14 "Then said all the trees to the bramble,'Come and reign over
us.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Judges ...
/t/trees.htm - 45k

Consume (136 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:15 "The bramble said to the trees,'If in truth you anoint me king over
you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of ...
/c/consume.htm - 40k

Why did God speak to Moses out of the burning bush? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Mount Gerizim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bramble: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus