### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsên**, represented by `{{H6791}}`, refers to a **thorn** or a cactus-hedge. It derives from an unused root meaning to be prickly. This specific term appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, where it is used metaphorically to describe danger and hardship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H6791}}` is used symbolically. In Job, it describes a barrier from which the **hungry** `{{H7457}}` desperately take the **harvest** `{{H7105}}`, illustrating a state of vulnerability and loss [[Job 5:5]]. In Proverbs, **thorns** `{{H6791}}` are paired with **snares** `{{H6341}}` to depict the dangerous and difficult path of the **froward** `{{H6141}}`, or perverse person [[Proverbs 22:5]]. In both instances, the word signifies a source of trouble and peril.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the dangerous and difficult context in which `{{H6791}}` is found:
* `{{H6341}}` **pach** (snare): Defined as a spring net, gin, or snare, this word is used alongside **thorns** to describe the traps awaiting the wicked [[Proverbs 22:5]] and as a metaphor for unexpected destruction [[Psalms 124:7]].
* `{{H6141}}` **ʻiqqêsh** (froward): Meaning distorted, false, or perverse, this term describes the character of the person whose path is filled with **thorns** and snares [[Proverbs 22:5]]. Those with a **froward** heart are considered an abomination to the LORD [[Proverbs 11:20]].
* `{{H6782}}` **tsammîym** (robber): Used in the context of Job's description of loss, this word, meaning a noose or figuratively destruction or a robber, is the agent who swallows the substance of the one whose harvest is taken from the **thorns** [[Job 5:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological meaning of `{{H6791}}` revolves around its use as a symbol of peril and the consequences of a sinful way of life.
* **The Path of the Perverse:** In Proverbs, `{{H6791}}` is explicitly linked to the way of the **froward** `{{H6141}}`. This illustrates that a life of moral perversity is inherently filled with hazards and self-inflicted difficulties [[Proverbs 22:5]].
* **Vulnerability and Loss:** In Job, the thorns fail to protect the harvest, which is taken by the **hungry** `{{H7457}}` and swallowed by the **robber** `{{H6782}}`. This imagery suggests that the security of the wicked is an illusion and their substance is ultimately unprotected and subject to loss [[Job 5:5]].
* **A Divine Warning:** The use of **thorns** in Proverbs serves as a clear warning. The text states that "he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them," presenting a core wisdom principle: one must choose a path of integrity to avoid the dangers that accompany wickedness [[Proverbs 22:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6791}}`, **tsên**, though appearing only twice, functions as a potent metaphor for danger. It is not a literal plant but a symbol of the hazardous circumstances that characterize the life of the **froward** [[Proverbs 22:5]] and the vulnerability of the wicked's possessions [[Job 5:5]]. Paired with words like **snares** and **robbers**, **tsên** serves as a stark biblical warning about the inherent perils of a life lived in opposition to wisdom and righteousness.
TRV