A thorny tree that grows up to 5 meters tall with small oval leaves and very sharp thorns.
About Boxthorn
A boxthorn is a thorny shrub that grows in dry areas. Some species of boxthorn have purplish flowers and brightly colored berries.
The thornbush in Judges 9:14–15 is thought to be to the European boxthorn (Lycium europaeum), also called desert-thorn. It is a thorny shrub that grows 1.8 to 3.7 meters (6 to 12 feet) tall. The plant has clusters of leaves and small violet flowers. These flowers eventually produce small, round red berries. The European boxthorn is native to Israel and the surrounding areas. It grows commonly throughout the region, especially in the area from Lebanon to the Dead Sea.
Key References
Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
All Scripture References (20)
Judges (2)
Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
Psalms (1)
The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
Matthew (4)
By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Mark (4)
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.
Luke (4)
For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.
The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
John (2)
Acts (2)
After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Hebrews (1)
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.