### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma קִמּוֹשׁ (qimmôwsh, `{{H7057}}`), also spelled קִימוֹשׁ, denotes a specific type of undesirable vegetation. Its etymology traces to an unused root signifying "to sting," immediately conveying a sense of irritation, pain, or discomfort. The base definition identifies it as a "prickly plant," specifically translated as "nettle." This points to plants characterized by stinging hairs or sharp spines. The comparison to קִמָּשׁוֹן (`{{H7056}}`) suggests a close semantic kinship, likely referring to similar thorny or stinging flora. Thus, the semantic range of qimmôwsh is narrow, focusing on a particular species of wild, unpleasant, and encroaching vegetation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term qimmôwsh appears twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in prophetic contexts, highlighting its symbolic significance:
* **[[Isaiah 34:13]]**: In a detailed prophecy concerning the utter desolation of Edom, the text declares, "Thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses; it shall be a habitation of jackals, a courtyard for ostriches." Here, qimmôwsh is paired with "thorns" (קוֹץ, `{{H6978}}`) and "brambles" (חֶרֶל, `{{H2748}}`), collectively illustrating the complete ruin and abandonment of Edom's once-grand structures. The growth of stinging nettles in palaces signifies the reversal of order, where human habitation and cultivated beauty are replaced by wild, painful, and uninhabitable overgrowth. It is a stark image of divine judgment and utter destruction.
* **[[Hosea 9:6]]**: Within a lament over the impending judgment and exile of Israel (Ephraim), the prophet states, "For behold, they are gone because of destruction; Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them; nettles shall possess their pleasant places; thorns shall be in their tents." Similar to Isaiah, qimmôwsh is linked with "thorns" (חֶרֶל, `{{H2748}}`). The imagery of nettles possessing "pleasant places" (מַחְמַדִּים, `{{H4261}}`), which likely refers to cherished homes or cultivated lands, powerfully conveys the loss, desolation, and ruin that will befall the land as a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness. The once-beautiful and productive areas will become wild, stinging, and uninhabitable, reflecting the spiritual decay and divine abandonment.
In both instances, qimmôwsh functions as a potent symbol of desolation, divine judgment, and the painful consequences of rebellion against God. Its presence signifies the takeover of order by chaos, beauty by ruin, and habitation by wilderness.
### Related Words & Concepts
The immediate related word is קִמָּשׁוֹן (qimmashon, `{{H7056}}`), which also translates to "thorns" or "nettles" and appears in similar contexts of desolation (e.g., [[Proverbs 24:31]], [[Isaiah 7:23]]). This reinforces the semantic field of undesirable, wild, and encroaching vegetation.
Other Hebrew terms for thorns, thistles, and weeds that convey similar notions of barrenness, difficulty, or judgment include:
* קוֹץ (qots, `{{H6978}}`): general term for thorns or thistles, often associated with the curse in Eden ([[Genesis 3:18]]).
* דַּרְדַּר (dardar, `{{H1863}}`): thistles, also from the Edenic curse.
* שָׁמִיר (shamir, `{{H8068}}`): briers or thorns, frequently used to describe desolate land or difficult paths.
* חֶרֶל (cherel, `{{H2748}}`): nettle or thistle, appearing alongside qimmôwsh in [[Isaiah 34:13]] and [[Hosea 9:6]], indicating a close semantic overlap.
The concept of "stinging" inherent in the root of qimmôwsh connects it to the broader biblical motif of pain, discomfort, and the irritating consequences of sin and judgment. The imagery of wild, undesirable growth taking over cultivated land is a recurring motif in prophetic literature, signifying a reversal of blessing and a return to a state of wilderness due to divine displeasure.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of qimmôwsh is deeply intertwined with themes of divine judgment, desolation, and the consequences of sin.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment and Desolation:** Primarily, qimmôwsh serves as a vivid symbol of God's righteous judgment. Its appearance in places of former glory (palaces) or comfort (pleasant places, tents) signifies utter ruin and abandonment. This is not merely natural decay but an active manifestation of divine wrath, where beauty and order are replaced by painful, worthless, and wild growth.
* **Consequence of Unfaithfulness:** In both prophetic contexts, the proliferation of nettles is a direct result of human rebellion and unfaithfulness. For Edom, it is a consequence of their pride and opposition to God's people. For Israel, it is the bitter fruit of their idolatry and disobedience. The stinging nettle thus embodies the painful and undesirable outcomes of departing from God's covenant.
* **Reversal of Creation and Blessing:** The presence of qimmôwsh represents a reversal of the blessings of creation and covenant. Instead of fruitfulness and habitation, there is barrenness and wildness. This echoes the curse in Eden ([[Genesis 3:17-18]]), where the ground yields thorns and thistles as a consequence of sin, making labor difficult and life painful.
* **Divine Sovereignty over Nature:** God employs even the humble, stinging nettle as an instrument or sign of His sovereign power to bring about His purposes, whether in judgment or the eventual restoration (though not explicitly in these qimmôwsh verses). It underscores that all creation, even its wild and undesirable elements, serves His will.
* **Warning and Lament:** The imagery of nettles serves as a potent warning against rebellion and a lament over the tragic loss of what was once cherished and blessed. It paints a picture of a land rendered inhospitable, reflecting the spiritual state of a people alienated from God.
### Summary
The Hebrew word קִמּוֹשׁ (qimmôwsh, `{{H7057}}`), meaning "nettle" or "prickly plant" from a root signifying "to sting," is a powerful biblical symbol of desolation and divine judgment. Appearing in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Hosea, qimmôwsh consistently depicts the painful and irreversible ruin that befalls places of human glory and comfort due to unfaithfulness and sin. Its growth in "palaces" and "pleasant places" signifies the complete reversal of order, where cultivated beauty gives way to wild, stinging, and uninhabitable overgrowth. Theologically, qimmôwsh underscores the severe consequences of rebellion against God, illustrating how His righteous judgment can transform flourishing lands into landscapes of discomfort and decay. It serves as a stark reminder of divine sovereignty and the ultimate futility of human endeavors apart from God's blessing.
TRV