בַּרְקָן
𐤁𐤓𐤒𐤍
barqân
H1303 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of thorny plant or brier, likely referring to a specific species of thorn-producing shrub or bramble characterized by its prickly or stinging qualities. Most commonly, בַּרְקָן denotes a plant that serves as a symbol for something troublesome, difficult, or of little value due to its sharp thorns.
Semantic Range
thorn, brier, bramble, prickly shrub; metaphor for something troublesome, something causing pain or punishment
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root בָּרָק (brq), meaning 'to flash, dart, sparkle.' The connection is likely visual or metaphorical, referring to the sharp, prominent, or dazzling appearance of the plant’s thorns, rather than literal brightness. The form בַּרְקָן is a denominative or noun formation from this verbal root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בַּרְקָן occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Judges 8:7, 16), specifically associated with plants used to punish or discipline (Gideon's use). The link between the root 'to flash' and a thorn-bush might refer to the gleaming, hard, and sharp points of the thorns when struck by light. English 'brier' or 'thorn-bush' conveys part of the meaning but may obscure the distinctiveness of the plant intended in the ancient context. No certain botanical identification is possible, but it likely refers to a robust, tough, and painful variety of desert thorn-brush. In later Jewish literature, similar words came to refer more generically to thorny plants. The English 'thorn' or 'brier' are broad and may not fully communicate the ancient nuance or the plant’s function as an implement for punishment or distress, as in its biblical context. The KJV and other translations' rendering as 'brier' reflects a generic choice rather than precise identification.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּרָק; a thorn (perhaps as burning brightly); brier.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ברק (b-r-q) — to flash, shine, emit a sudden burst of light
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1299 | בָּרַק | Flash forth! |
| H1300 | בָּרָק | Lightning |
| H1301 | בָּרָק | Lightning |
| H1304 | בָּרֶקֶת | and flashing gem |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1303-01 |
הַֽ/בַּרְקֳנִֽים | habareqonim | HTd/Ncmpa |
briers | the flashing-briers | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1303-01 |
Judges 8:7 | הַֽ/בַּרְקֳנִֽים | habareqonim | HTd/Ncmpa |
briers | the flashing-briers |
H1303-01 |
Judges 8:16 | הַֽ/בַּרְקֳנִ֑ים | habareqonim | HTd/Ncmpa |
briers | the flashing-briers |