Crown of Thorns
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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Crown of Thorns

CROWN OF THORNS

thornz (akdnthinos stephanos): Three of the four evangelists mention the crown of thorns, wherewith the rude Roman soldiers derided the captive Christ (Matthew 27:29 Mark 15:17 John 19:2). All speak of the akanthine (Acanthus) crown, but there is no certainty about the peculiar plant, from the branches of which this crown of cruel mockery was plaited. The rabbinical books. mention no less than twenty-two words in the Bible signifying thorny plants, and the word akantha in the New Testament Greek is a generic and not a specific term. And this word or its adjective is used in the three Gospels, quoted above. It is therefore impossible definitely to determine what was the exact plant or tree, whose thorny branches were selected for this purpose. Tobler (Denkbl., 113, 179) inclines to the Spina Christi, as did Hasselquist. Its botanical name is Zizyphus Spina Christi, It is very common in the East. Its spines are small and sharp, its branches soft, round and pliable, and the leaves look like ivy, with a dark, shiny green color, making them therefore very adaptable to the purpose of the soldiers. Others have designated the Paliurus aculeatus or the Lycium horridum. Both Geikie (Life of Christ, 549) and Farrar (Life of Christ, note 625) point to the Nubk (Zizyphus lotus). Says the latter, "The Nubk struck me, as it has all travelers in Palestine, as being most suitable both for mockery and pain, since its leaves are bright and its thorns singularly strong. But though the Nubk is very common on the shores of Galilee, I saw none of it near Jerusalem." The settlement of the question is manifestly impossible.

Henry E. Dosker

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Crown of Thorns

(Matthew 27:29) Our Lord was crowned with thorns in mockery by the Roman soldiers. Obviously some small flexile thorny shrub is meant perhaps Capparis spinosa. "Hasselquist, a Swedish naturalist, supposes a very common plant naba or nubka of the Arabs, with many small and sharp sines; soft, round and pliant branches; leaves much resembling ivy, of a very deep green, as if in designed mockery of a victor's wreath." --Alford.

Greek
4735. stephanos -- that which surrounds, ie a crown
... [4735 () is used of a plaited wreath ("crown"), like the one made of thorns placed
on the head of Christ at His trial (Mt 27:29, Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2,5).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4735.htm - 7k
Nave's Topical Index
Matthew 27:29
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Nave's Topical Index

Mark 15:17
And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
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John 19:5
Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, Behold the man!
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Crown of Thorns
The Crown of Thorns. <. The Crown of Thorns EH Chapin. Produced by An
Anonymous Volunteer Table of Contents. Title Page. PREFACE. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/the crown of thorns/

The Crown of Thorns.
... CHAPTER VII. THE CROWN OF THORNS. ... Of all the features of the scene the one that has
most impressed the imagination of Christendom is the crown of thorns. ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter vii the crown of.htm

The Crown of Thorns
The Crown of Thorns. <. ... Title Page. THE CROWN OF THORNS
A TOKEN FOR THE SORROWING. by EH Chapin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/the crown of thorns/title page.htm

The Crowning with Thorns.
... mantle which barely reached his knees; dragged him to the seat prepared, and pushed
him roughly down upon it, having first placed the crown of thorns upon his ...
/.../chapter xxvi the crowning with.htm

It is Related that when Pilate Would Fain have Released Him all ...
... In His humiliation His judgment was taken away." It is written that there
was put on Him a crown of thorns. Of this hear in the ...
/.../22 it is related that.htm

Preface.
The Crown of Thorns. <. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/the crown of thorns/preface.htm

John Chapter xix. 1-16.
... it. "And the soldiers," he says, "platted a crown of thorns, and put it
on His head, and they clothed Him with a purple robe. And ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxvi john chapter xix.htm

Synoptical Table
... 29 ΒΆ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and
a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of peter/synoptical table.htm

Of the Mockery which He Sustained at the Hands of Pilate's Cohort ...
... And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed
in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter ix of the mockery which.htm

Christ Crucified.
... 2, 3. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns. The crown of thorns was probably
a wreath of thorny leaves something like the common cactus. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ crucified.htm

Subtopics

Crown

Crown by Queens

Crown of Thorns

Crown of Victory

Crown: An Ornament

Crown: Figurative

Crown: Made of Gold

Crown: Prescribed for Priests

Crown: Set With Gems

Crown: Symbolical

Crown: Worn by Kings

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