The Hebrew word qimmâshôwn, represented by H7063, refers to a prickly plant; thorn. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse within the biblical text. Its singular use, however, provides a sharp and memorable image of decay and neglect.
The sole appearance of H7063 is in the book of Proverbs, where the author observes a field that has fallen into ruin. The verse states, "And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns H7063, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down" Proverbs 24:31. Here, the thorns are not just random weeds but a key indicator of a larger problem: the complete abandonment of responsibility, which has also resulted in the collapse of the protective stone wall. The presence of qimmâshôwn serves as a direct and visible consequence of sloth.
Several words from its only context in Proverbs 24:31 help illustrate the full picture of this desolation:
- H2738 chârûwl (nettle): This word for a thorny weed appears alongside H7063, reinforcing the image of an untamed and useless plot of land. It is also used to describe a place of desolation and judgment Zephaniah 2:9.
- H5927 ʻâlâh (grow over): This verb, which means to ascend or mount up, describes how the thorns have completely taken over the land. The same word is used for angels ascending to heaven Genesis 28:12, showing its broad application for upward movement.
- H3680 kâçâh (to cover): Used to describe how the nettles have hidden the surface of the ground, this word can also be used figuratively for covering sin Psalms 32:1 or the Lord's glory covering the earth Habakkuk 2:14.
- H2040 hâraç (broken down): Describing the state of the stone wall, this verb means to pull down or destroy. It is often used in contexts of judgment, such as the throwing down of walls Jeremiah 50:15 or the destruction of foundations Psalms 11:3.
- H68 ʼeben (stone): The material of the broken wall. While it signifies ruin in this context, stone is often used symbolically as a foundation of strength, such as the "precious corner stone" Isaiah 28:16 or the Ebenezer stone of God's help 1 Samuel 7:12.
Though appearing only once, H7063 contributes to a significant theological picture of cause and effect.
- Symbol of Neglect: The primary significance of qimmâshôwn is its role as a clear sign of sloth and its consequences. The thorns are physical proof of a field, and by extension a life, that has been abandoned to decay Proverbs 24:31.
- An Element of Desolation: Paired with nettles H2738, which are explicitly linked to judgment and "perpetual desolation" elsewhere in scripture Zephaniah 2:9, these thorns become part of a broader biblical motif where such overgrowth signifies a cursed or forsaken land.
- The Fruit of Foundational Collapse: The thorns grow because the protective stone H68 wall is broken down H2040. This connects the weed to the idea of a compromised foundation, echoing the warning that if the foundations are destroyed, chaos ensues Psalms 11:3.
In summary, H7063 qimmâshôwn is a highly specific term for thorn whose power lies in its singular, vivid application. Found only in Proverbs, it stands as a stark visual metaphor for the results of neglect. Surrounded by imagery of nettles, a covered landscape, and a collapsed stone wall, this word serves as a potent and enduring warning about the spiritual and physical ruin that follows when diligence is abandoned.
TRV