ἀκάνθινος
akánthinos
G174 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Made of thorn branches; consisting of or constructed from thorns. Primarily describes objects formed or woven from thorns, such as a crown or wreath. The term conveys the literal material composition (of thorns) without specifying a symbolic meaning.
Semantic Range
made of thorns, consisting of thorns, woven of thorn branches, thorny (as material composition)
Root / Etymology
From the noun ἄκανθα (thorn, prickly plant) combined with the adjectival suffix -ινος, indicating material composition or made of — thus, 'made of thorns' or 'thorny.' The formation follows a common Greek morphological pattern.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, -ινος adjectives frequently denote what something is made of (e.g., λιθινος = 'made of stone'). ἀκάνθινος is rare and is attested in Koine Greek, especially associated with the New Testament narrative of the 'crown of thorns.' It appears notably in the Passion accounts (e.g., Mark 15:17; John 19:2,5), describing a woven headpiece fashioned by Roman soldiers as a form of mockery and abuse. The use is highly contextualized and not a broad, generic descriptor. Earlier stages of Greek do not commonly attest this term, as -ινος forms with similar meaning appear primarily in post-classical and Koine periods. English translations typically render as 'of thorns' or 'thorny,' but the Greek term more specifically denotes the object's substance (i.e., made out of thorn branches), rather than simply covered with thorns or prickly. No symbolic or metaphorical use is present in primary sources; its usage is literal and descriptive.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἄκανθα; thorny:--of thorns.
Root Family
ἀκάνθινος (akanthinos) — thorn, bramble; made of thorns
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G174-01 |
ἀκάνθινον | akanthinon | ADJ.A ACC M SG |
of thorns | made of thorns | crown of thorns | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G174-01 |
Mark 15:17 | ἀκάνθινον | akanthinon | ADJ.A ACC M SG |
of thorns | made of thorns | made of thorns |
G174-01 |
John 19:5 | ἀκάνθινον | akanthinon | ADJ.A ACC M SG |
thorny | made of thorns | crown of thorns |