### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **bátos**, represented by `{{G942}}`, refers to a **brier shrub**, such as a **bramble** or **bush**. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. Though its usage is infrequent, it is central to two significant biblical episodes: a moment of divine revelation and a parable about discerning nature by its fruit.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G942}}` is used in two key contexts. Its most prominent use is to identify the burning **bush** where an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a "flame of fire" on Mount Sinai [[Acts 7:30]]. This event was so foundational that both Stephen, in his defense, and Jesus, in his teaching on the resurrection, refer to it by referencing the **bush** ([[Acts 7:35]], [[Mark 12:26]]). The location is specifically cited as "at the **bush**" when God revealed himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [[Luke 20:37]]. The word is also used metaphorically in a teaching by Jesus, where he states that men do not gather grapes from a **bramble bush** [[Luke 6:44]] to illustrate that everything is known by its own fruit.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context in which `{{G942}}` is used:
* `{{G1186}}` **déndron** (a tree): This word is used in contrast to `{{G942}}` to establish a broader principle. In the same passage where Jesus mentions the bramble bush, he states that every **tree** is known by its fruit [[Luke 6:44]].
* `{{G173}}` **ákantha** (a thorn): This term describes a type of unproductive, sharp plant. It is used in parallel with `{{G942}}` to show that good fruit cannot come from a worthless source, as men do not gather figs from **thorns** [[Luke 6:44]].
* `{{G5395}}` **phlóx** (a blaze): This word is essential to the account of the burning bush. It describes the divine presence as a **flame** of fire that appeared to Moses within the **bush** `{{G942}}` itself [[Acts 7:30]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G942}}` is tied directly to its specific biblical appearances.
* **Site of Theophany:** The **bush** serves as the physical setting for a divine revelation to Moses. It is the place where God sends an angel and speaks, commissioning Moses as a deliverer for his people ([[Acts 7:30]], [[Acts 7:35]]).
* **Symbol of Divine Presence:** The event is identified simply as "at the **bush**," marking it as a signifier for God's enduring covenant with the patriarchs, a point Jesus makes to prove the resurrection ([[Mark 12:26]], [[Luke 20:37]]). The bush containing the fire becomes a symbol of God's powerful and miraculous presence.
* **Illustration of Spiritual Truth:** As a **bramble bush**, the word serves as a negative example in Jesus' teaching. It represents a source that cannot produce good fruit, illustrating the principle that a person's inner nature is revealed by their outward actions [[Luke 6:44]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G942}}` is a word with a narrow but profound application. As the **bush** on Mount Sinai, it marks the location of one of the most important divine encounters in the Old Testament, a moment so significant it is recalled in the New Testament to affirm God's identity and power. As a **bramble bush** in a parable, it provides a simple, agricultural image to convey a timeless spiritual lesson about the relationship between nature and fruit.
TRV