2 Chronicles 25:18
New International Version
But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.

New Living Translation
But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!

English Standard Version
And Joash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.

Berean Standard Bible
But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

King James Bible
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

New King James Version
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

New American Standard Bible
But Joash the king of Israel sent a reply to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush that was in Lebanon sent word to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.

NASB 1995
Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trampled the thorn bush.

NASB 1977
And Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thorn bush.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ But a beast of the field that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.

Amplified Bible
Then Joash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The [little] thorn bush in Lebanon sent word to the [great] cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thorn bush.

Christian Standard Bible
King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon sent a message to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent a message to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

American Standard Version
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.

Contemporary English Version
Jehoash sent back a reply that said: Once upon a time, a small thornbush in Lebanon arranged the marriage between his son and the daughter of a large cedar tree. But a wild animal came along and trampled the small bush.

English Revised Version
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon; and trode down the thistle.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: "A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said, 'Let your daughter marry my son,' but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

Good News Translation
Jehoash sent this answer to Amaziah: "Once a thorn bush in the Lebanon Mountains sent a message to a cedar: 'Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' A wild animal passed by and trampled the bush down.

International Standard Version
But King Joash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah, "There once was a thorn bush in Lebanon that sent an invitation to the cedar of Lebanon that read 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' Right about then, a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.

Majority Standard Bible
But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: ?A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ?Give your daughter to my son in marriage.? Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

NET Bible
King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, "A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son as a wife.' Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush.

New Heart English Bible
Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as his wife; then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son for a wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.

World English Bible
Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Come, we look one another in the face.” And Joash king of Israel sends to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn that [is] in Lebanon has sent to the cedar that [is] in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son for a wife; and a beast of the field that [is] in Lebanon passes by and treads down the thorn.

Young's Literal Translation
Come, we look one another in the face.' And Joash king of Israel sendeth unto Amaziah king of Judah, saying, 'The thorn that is in Lebanon hath sent unto the cedar that is in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son for a wife; and pass by doth a beast of the field that is in Lebanon, and treadeth down the thorn.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joash king of Israel will send to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thorn-bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, Thou shalt give thy daughter to my son for wife: and a beast of the field that was in Lebanon will pass by and tread down the thorn-bush.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he sent back the messengers, saying: The thistle that is in Libanus, sent to the cedar in Libanus, saying: Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and behold the beasts that were in the wood of Libanus passed by, and trod down the thistle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he sent back messengers, saying: “The thistle which is in Lebanon sent to the cedar of Lebanon, saying: ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife.’ And behold, the beasts that were in the forest of Lebanon passed through, and they trampled the thistle.

New American Bible
Joash, king of Israel, sent this reply to Amaziah, king of Judah: “A thistle of Lebanon sent word to a cedar of Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage,’ but an animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle underfoot.

New Revised Standard Version
King Joash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thornbush on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife’; but a wild animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thornbush.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that is in Lebanon sent to the cedar that is in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife; and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trampled down the thistle.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuash King of Israel sent to Amutsia, King of Yehuda, and said to him: “The thorn bush that is in Lebanon sent to the cedar that is in Lebanon and said to it: ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ And a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trod on the thorn bush.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: 'The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying: Give thy daughter to my son to wife; and there passed by the wild beasts that were in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joas king of Israel sent to Amasias king of Juda, saying, The thistle that was in Libanus sent to the cedar that was in Libanus, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife; but, behold, thy wild beasts of the field that are in Libanus shall come: and the wild beasts did come, and trod down the thistle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Amaziah Defeated by Joash
17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said. 18But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 19You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”…

Cross References
2 Kings 14:9
But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

Judges 9:8-15
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ / But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’ / Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’ ...

Isaiah 5:1-7
I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. / He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour! / “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard. ...

Ezekiel 17:2-10
“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel / and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. / He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders. ...

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Mark 4:30-32
Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? / It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. / But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? / It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

Proverbs 25:14
Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

Proverbs 26:18-19
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, / so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

Hosea 10:1
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.

Jeremiah 2:21
I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?

Psalm 80:8-16
You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it. / You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. / The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. ...

Isaiah 27:2-6
In that day: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard. / I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it; / I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground. ...

Matthew 21:33-41
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. / But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ...

Mark 12:1-9
Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. / At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. / But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and stepped down the thistle.

thistle.

Judges 9:8-15
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us…

1 Kings 4:33
And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

a wild beast of the field

Psalm 80:13
The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.

Jump to Previous
Amaziah Amazi'ah Animal Beast Beasts Bush Cedar Daughter Israel Joash Judah Lebanon Marriage Passed Thistle Thorn Trampled Trod Trode Wife Wild Word
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Amaziah Amazi'ah Animal Beast Beasts Bush Cedar Daughter Israel Joash Judah Lebanon Marriage Passed Thistle Thorn Trampled Trod Trode Wife Wild Word
2 Chronicles 25
1. Amaziah begins to reign well
3. He executes justice on the traitors
5. having hired an army of Israelites against the Edomites,
7. at the word of a prophet dismisses them
11. He overthrows the Edomites
13. The Israelites, discontented with their dismission, spoil as they return home
14. Amaziah, proud of his victory, serves the gods of Edom, and ignores the prophet
17. He provokes Joash to his overthrow
25. His reign
27. He is slain by conspiracy














But Jehoash king of Israel replied
This phrase introduces Jehoash, the king of Israel, who is responding to Amaziah, the king of Judah. The historical context here is crucial; Jehoash, also known as Joash, ruled the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of division and conflict between Israel and Judah. The Hebrew root for "replied" (עָנָה, 'anah) often implies a response that is not just verbal but also carries a deeper, sometimes confrontational, meaning. Jehoash's reply is not merely a conversation but a strategic and symbolic retort.

to Amaziah king of Judah
Amaziah, the king of Judah, is the recipient of Jehoash's message. His reign is marked by a mixture of faithfulness and folly, as he initially sought to follow God's commands but later turned to idolatry. The historical context of this interaction is a period of tension and rivalry between the two kingdoms. The Hebrew name "Amaziah" (אֲמַצְיָה, 'Amatsyah) means "Yahweh is mighty," which is ironic given the outcome of his confrontation with Jehoash.

saying, 'A thistle in Lebanon
The imagery of a "thistle" is significant. In Hebrew, the word for thistle (חָחוּ, chachuw) represents something small, insignificant, and easily destroyed. Lebanon, known for its majestic cedars, symbolizes strength and grandeur. The thistle, therefore, represents Amaziah's overestimation of his power and position compared to the might of Israel, symbolized by the cedar.

sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon
The "cedar" is a powerful symbol of strength, durability, and majesty. In the ancient Near East, cedars of Lebanon were highly prized for their quality and were often used in temple construction, including Solomon's Temple. The contrast between the thistle and the cedar highlights the disparity between Amaziah's perceived strength and the reality of his situation. The act of sending a message implies a challenge or a demand, which in this context, is Amaziah's challenge to Jehoash.

saying, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.'
This phrase is a metaphorical expression of Amaziah's presumption and arrogance. In ancient times, marriage alliances were a common way to secure peace and strengthen political ties. However, the request from the thistle to the cedar is absurd, illustrating Amaziah's overreach and lack of understanding of his own limitations.

Then a wild beast in Lebanon passed by
The "wild beast" symbolizes an unexpected and uncontrollable force that disrupts the thistle's plans. In the Hebrew context, wild beasts often represent chaos and destruction. This imagery serves as a warning to Amaziah about the consequences of his pride and the inevitable downfall that follows when one oversteps their bounds.

and trampled the thistle
The act of trampling signifies complete destruction and humiliation. The Hebrew root for "trampled" (רָמַס, ramas) conveys a sense of being crushed underfoot, leaving no trace of the thistle's former presence. This outcome serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of pride and the importance of humility before God and others.

(18) And Joash king of Israel.--This verse is the same as 2Kings 14:9. (See Notes there.)

Verse 18. - The thistle... sent to the cedar. While other history shows frequently the abounding Eastern delight in this exact kind of composition, it will be remembered that it is not absent from Scripture, and that this is not the first recorded instance of it by three hundred and fifty years, for see Judges 9:7-15. The thistle; Hebrew, הַחוַח. The word occurs, beside the four times here and in the parallel, eight other times: 1 Samuel 13:6; 2 Chronicles 33:11; Job 31:40; Job 41:2; Proverbs 26:9; Song of Solomon 2:2; Isaiah 34:13; Hosea 9:6. Although, then, the word we have here is not the "bramble" (אָטָד) of Judges 9:15, which also is brought before us in its contrast with Lebanon's cedar, yet the bramble bush, chiefly in virtue of its characteristic thorn, best answers to the average suggestions of all the twelve instances of the use of our word.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Jehoash
יוֹאָ֣שׁ (yō·w·’āš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3101: Joash

king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

replied
וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Amaziah
אֲמַצְיָ֣הוּ (’ă·maṣ·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 558: Amaziah -- 'Yah is mighty', the name of several Israelites

king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Judah:
יְהוּדָה֮ (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

“A thistle
הַח֜וֹחַ (ha·ḥō·w·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2336: Briar, bramble, hook, ring, fetter

in Lebanon
בַּלְּבָנ֗וֹן (bal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3844: Lebanon -- a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel

sent
שָׁ֠לַח (laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

a message to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

a cedar
הָאֶ֜רֶז (hā·’e·rez)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

in Lebanon,
בַּלְּבָנוֹן֙ (bal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3844: Lebanon -- a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel

saying,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Give
תְּנָֽה־ (tə·nāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

your daughter
בִּתְּךָ֥ (bit·tə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

to my son
לִבְנִ֖י (liḇ·nî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

in marriage.’
לְאִשָּׁ֑ה (lə·’iš·šāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

Then a wild
הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

beast
חַיַּ֤ת (ḥay·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

in Lebanon
בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן (bal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3844: Lebanon -- a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel

came along
וַֽתַּעֲבֹ֞ר (wat·ta·‘ă·ḇōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

and trampled
וַתִּרְמֹ֖ס (wat·tir·mōs)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7429: To tread upon

the thistle.
הַחֽוֹחַ׃ (ha·ḥō·w·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2336: Briar, bramble, hook, ring, fetter


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 25:18 Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
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