Nettles are mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of desolation and neglect, often found in contexts describing the consequences of sin and judgment. The plant is known for its stinging hairs, which can cause irritation upon contact, making it a fitting metaphor for discomfort and desolation.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 24:30-31 : "I went past the field of a sluggard and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and the stone wall was broken down." In this passage, nettles are associated with laziness and neglect. The overgrown field and vineyard serve as a warning against idleness and the failure to maintain one's responsibilities.

2. Isaiah 34:13 : "Thorns will overgrow her citadels, nettles and brambles her fortresses. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches." Here, nettles are part of the imagery used to describe the desolation that will come upon Edom as a result of divine judgment. The presence of nettles signifies abandonment and ruin.

3. Hosea 9:6 : "For behold, they will go away because of destruction; Egypt will gather them, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will possess their treasures of silver; thorns will overrun their tents." Although nettles are not explicitly mentioned, the imagery of weeds and thorns conveys a similar sense of desolation and the consequences of turning away from God.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the biblical context, nettles symbolize the consequences of sin, neglect, and divine judgment. They are often found in descriptions of abandoned or cursed places, serving as a visual representation of spiritual and physical decay. The presence of nettles in these passages underscores the importance of diligence, faithfulness, and obedience to God's commandments.

Nettles also serve as a reminder of the fallen state of the world and the need for redemption. Just as nettles can overtake a neglected field, sin can overtake a life that is not tended with care and devotion to God. The imagery of nettles calls believers to remain vigilant in their spiritual walk, maintaining their faith and commitment to God's ways.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient times, nettles were a common plant in the Near East, known for their resilience and ability to thrive in neglected areas. Their presence in biblical texts would have been easily understood by the original audience as a sign of neglect and desolation. The plant's stinging nature further emphasizes the discomfort and pain associated with spiritual neglect and divine judgment.

Overall, nettles in the Bible serve as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of maintaining a faithful and diligent life in accordance with His will.1. (n. pl.) The halves of yarns in the unlaid end of a rope twisted for pointing or grafting.

2. (n. pl.) Small lines used to sling hammocks under the deck beams.

3. (n. pl.) Reef points.

NETTLES

net'-'lz: (1) charul, (Job 30:7 Proverbs 24:31 Zephaniah 2:9 margin, in all, "wild vetches"); the translation "nettles" is due to the supposed derivations of charul from an (obsolete) charal, meaning "to be sharp" or "stinging," but a translation "thorns" (as in Vulgate) would in that case do as well. Septuagint has phrugana agria, "wild brushwood," in Job, and certainly the association with the "saltwort" and the retm, "broom," in the passage would best be met by the supposition that it means the low thorny bushes plentiful in association with these plants. "Vetch" is suggested by the Aramaic, but is very uncertain. (2) qimmosh (Isaiah 34:13 Hosea 9:6), and plural qimmeshonim (Proverbs 24:31), translated (English Versions of the Bible) "thorns," because of the translation of charul as "nettles" in the same verse From Isaiah 34:13 qimmosh is apparently distinct from thorns, and the translation "nettle" is very probable, as such neglected or deserted places as described in the three references readily become overgrown with nettles in Palestine The common and characteristic Palestine nettle is the Urtica pilulifera, so called from the globular heads of its flowers.

E. W. G. Masterman

7057. qimmos -- perhaps thistles
... 7056, 7057. qimmos. 7058 . perhaps thistles. Transliteration: qimmos
Phonetic Spelling: (kim-moshe') Short Definition: nettles. ...
/hebrew/7057.htm - 6k

2738. charul -- (a kind of weed), perhaps chickpea
... 2737, 2738. charul. 2739 . (a kind of weed), perhaps chickpea. Transliteration:
charul Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-rool') Short Definition: nettles. ...
/hebrew/2738.htm - 6k

The Broken Fence
... "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding; and to, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the broken fence.htm

The Sluggard's Garden
... And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof,
and the stone wall thereof was broken down.'"Proverbs 24:30, 31. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the sluggards garden.htm

The Sluggard's Farm
... "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the sluggards farm.htm

The Savanna of Aripo
... gigantic pepper-trees, or the silvery leaves of the Calathea, the lofty bamboo,
or the fragrant Pothos, the curious Cyclanthus, or frowning nettles, some of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xii the savanna of.htm

What the Flowers Say.
... your love. Some children are regular stinging nettles in a home, or a
school. They always make people uncomfortable. They sting ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lxi what the flowers.htm

False Profession.
... The iniquity that cleaveth to men that profess, if they cast it not away, but
countenance it, will all prove nettles and briars to them; and I will assure thee ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xx false profession.htm

An Exhortation to Love God
... Would it not vex one to lay out money upon a piece of ground which, instead of
bringing forth corn or grapes, should yield nothing but nettles? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/an exhortation to love god.htm

Degeneration
... "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/degeneration.htm

That Evening Vergilius Went to Feast with the Young Herodian ...
... among them. There were oysters, mussels, spondyli, fieldfares with asparagus,
roe-ribs, sea-nettles, and purple shellfish. When ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 4 that evening vergilius.htm

The Prodigal and his Brother.
... to former majesty, to draw out to light from mere rubbish the ruined glories, and
therefore stooping down amongst the dank ivy and the rank nettles; such was ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xx the prodigal and his.htm

Nettles (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n. pl.) Small lines used to sling hammocks under the deck beams. 3. (n.
pl.) Reef points. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NETTLES. ...
/n/nettles.htm - 9k

Nettle (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 34:13 Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses;
and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches. ...
/n/nettle.htm - 8k

Thistles (9 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was
covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down. ...
/t/thistles.htm - 9k

Breed (6 Occurrences)
... mimshaq, a derivative of mesheq = "possession," "territory," "field." The passage
in question should therefore be translated "field of nettles" (the Revised ...
/b/breed.htm - 10k

Sting (5 Occurrences)
... The term is sometimes applied to the fang of a serpent. 2. (n.) A sharp-pointed
hollow hair seated on a gland which secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. ...
/s/sting.htm - 10k

Thorns (56 Occurrences)
... Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. ... Memphis
will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. ...
/t/thorns.htm - 25k

Thorn (30 Occurrences)
... 118:12 Isaiah 32:13; Isaiah 33:12 Jeremiah 4:3; Jeremiah 12:13 Ezekiel 28:24 Hosea
10:8). (14) qimmosh (Proverbs 24:31, "thorns"; Isaiah 34:13; Ho 9:6, "nettles...
/t/thorn.htm - 35k

Network (19 Occurrences)

/n/network.htm - 14k

Flesh (468 Occurrences)
... 118:12 Isaiah 32:13; Isaiah 33:12 Jeremiah 4:3; Jeremiah 12:13 Ezekiel 28:24 Hosea
10:8). (14) qimmosh (Proverbs 24:31, "thorns"; Isaiah 34:13; Ho 9:6, "nettles...
/f/flesh.htm - 69k

Undergrowth (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Undergrowth (2 Occurrences). Job 30:7 Among the bushes
they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together. (See NIV). ...
/u/undergrowth.htm - 7k

Nettles: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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