Lexical Summary chedeq: Thorn, brier Original Word: חֵדֶק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance brier, thorn From an unused root meaning to sting; a prickly plant -- brier, thorn. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a briar NASB Translation briar (1), thorns (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֵ֑דֶק noun [masculine] brier (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic חִדְקָא Löwp. 147, No. 104; compare Arabic  a kind of night-shade, see Lane532); — טוֺבָם כַּחֵדֶק Micah 7:4 the best of them (si vera lectio) is like the brier ("" יָשָׁר מִמְּסוּכָה); דֶּרֶךְ עָצֵל כִּמְשֻׂכַת חָ֑דֶק Proverbs 15:19 the way of a sluggard is like a brier-hedge. Topical Lexicon Biblical Imagery and Meaning חֵדֶק evokes the picture of a dense, interlocking barrier of thorns. In Scripture, thorns often symbolize the painful consequences of sin (Genesis 3:18), impediments to fruitful living (Matthew 13:7), and the hostility of a fallen world (2 Corinthians 12:7). A thorn hedge, therefore, conveys both obstruction and danger—something that wounds when touched and blocks forward movement. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Proverbs 15:19 contrasts the indolent and the upright: “The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway”. The imagery suggests that laziness creates self-inflicted obstacles; diligence, by contrast, levels the path. Cultural and Historical Background Ancient Near-Eastern farmers frequently ringed fields and vineyards with thorn hedges to keep out animals and thieves. While effective, these hedges could also trap the unwary traveler. Solomon and Micah drew on a familiar landscape feature to drive home moral truth: what was meant to protect becomes an image of impediment and judgment when applied to human character. Theological Reflections Proverbs 15:19 shows that sin is not merely passive; it creates real barriers that impede progress toward God’s best. The sluggard’s thorns arise from his own choices, reminding readers that personal responsibility cannot be evaded. Micah 7:4 exposes a society in which even leaders—those expected to guide—have become hazards. The thorn hedge here is corporate and systemic, pointing to a time when “watchmen” announce inevitable judgment. Together the passages declare that sin produces both private and public consequences. Practical Ministry Applications • Spiritual self-examination: Believers are urged to identify “thorn hedges” of procrastination, bitterness, or compromise that hinder their walk. Christological and Eschatological Echoes The thorn hedge motif ultimately points to the One who wore a crown of thorns (John 19:2). Jesus absorbed the curse symbolized by thorns so that those trapped by sin might enter the “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20). While Micah forecasts a day of confusion for the wicked, the gospel announces a future when “no lion will be there, nor any vicious beast” (Isaiah 35:9), and every barrier to righteous fellowship is removed. Forms and Transliterations חָ֑דֶק חדק כְּחֵ֔דֶק כחדק Chadek ḥā·ḏeq ḥāḏeq kə·ḥê·ḏeq keChedek kəḥêḏeqLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 15:19 HEB: עָ֭צֵל כִּמְשֻׂ֣כַת חָ֑דֶק וְאֹ֖רַח יְשָׁרִ֣ים NAS: is as a hedge of thorns, But the path KJV: [man is] as an hedge of thorns: but the way INT: of the lazy A hedge of thorns the path of the upright Micah 7:4 2 Occurrences |
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