English · KJV
H6975

קוֹץ

qôwts /kotse/ Ask about this word
Rootor קֹץ · from קוּץ (in the sense of pricking)
Meaninga thorn
KJV usagethorn.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qôwts — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word qôwts, represented by H6975, literally means thorn. It appears 12 times across 12 unique verses in the Bible. While it can refer to a physical plant, it is frequently used to symbolize curse, judgment, and people who are wicked or troublesome.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narrative, H6975 is first introduced as a consequence of the curse on the ground Genesis 3:18. It frequently symbolizes divine judgment and desolation, as seen in prophecies where thorns are said to come up H5927 on the altars H4196 of a sinful Israel Hosea 10:8 or upon the land of a disobedient people Isaiah 32:13. Figuratively, it represents worthless or painful outcomes, as when the people of Judah are warned not to sow H2232 among thorns Jeremiah 4:3, and that sowing wheat H2406 would only reap H7114 thorns Jeremiah 12:13. The word is also used to describe a tool for harsh punishment, as when Gideon H1439 taught the men of Succoth a lesson with thorns of the wilderness Judges 8:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of thorns, judgment, and worthless things:

  • H1863 dardar (thistle): This term for thistle is frequently paired with H6975 to represent the unproductive and cursed state of the land after the fall Genesis 3:18 and as a sign of judgment upon altars of sin Hosea 10:8.
  • H8068 shâmîyr (brier): Often translated as brier, this word appears with thorns to denote the overgrowth on desolate land, a physical manifestation of judgment upon the people Isaiah 32:13.
  • H1100 bᵉlîyaʻal (wickedness): The concept of wickedness is directly linked to thorns, as the sons of Belial are described as being like thorns that are thrust away H5074, too dangerous to be taken H3947 by hand H3027 2 Samuel 23:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6975 is tied to its consistent use as a symbol of negative spiritual realities.

  • The Curse of Sin: From its first appearance, the thorn is a direct result of the curse on the ground, representing a world broken by sin and the painful toil that follows Genesis 3:18. This theme is echoed in prophecies where fruitless labor results in reaping thorns Jeremiah 12:13.
  • Divine Judgment: The presence of thorns signifies God's judgment. They overrun idolatrous high places H1116 Hosea 10:8 and joyous H5947 cities H7151 Isaiah 32:13 as a physical sign of spiritual desolation.
  • Representation of Wickedness: Scripture compares wicked people, specifically the "sons of Belial," to thorns that are harmful and must be thrust away and burned H3341 (2 Samuel 23:6, Isaiah 33:12). Enemies of Israel are also described as a "grieving H3510 thorn" Ezekiel 28:24.

Summary

In summary, H6975 transcends its simple definition as a thorn. It serves as a potent and recurring biblical symbol for the consequences of sin, from the initial curse upon the land to the judgment enacted upon a disobedient nation. Whether representing fruitless labor, desolate places, or wicked individuals fit for destruction, qôwts consistently points to pain, difficulty, and the corrupting influence of that which stands in opposition to God's will.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 12 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • קוֹצִים
  • קוֹץ
  • קוֹצֵי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5927 עָלָה a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary an H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ from זָבַח; an altar; altar. H2232 זָרַע a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify; bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield. H2406 חִטָּה of uncertain derivation; wheat, whether the grain or the plant; wheat(-en). H7114 קָצַר a primitive root; to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest ( H1439 גִּדְעוֹן from גָּדַע; feller (i.e. warrior); Gidon, an Israelite; Gideon.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 9 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Judges, Isaiah, and Jeremiah (2 verses each); never once in the other 30.

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
2
Judges
1
2 Samuel
1
Psalms
2
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Hosea

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.