דַּרְדַּר
𐤃𐤓𐤃𐤓
dardar
H1863 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of thorny or spiny plant, likely referring to a species of thistle or bramble; denotes a wild, often noxious plant that proliferates in neglected or cursed ground. Used figuratively to indicate desolation, barrenness, or the consequences of disobedience.
Semantic Range
thorn; thistle; bramble; a wild spiny plant associated with wasteland; symbol of desolation or curse
Root / Etymology
Uncertain; no consensus on a Hebrew root. The word appears to be an archaic or loanword, possibly onomatopoeic to imitate the sound made when brushing against thorns. No clear Semitic cognates have been identified.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דַּרְדַּר (dardar) is a hapax legomenon in Genesis 3:18, appearing again in Hosea 10:8. In Genesis, it marks the result of the ground being cursed after human disobedience, suggesting a wild, untamed plant associated with judgment and adversity. In Hosea 10:8, it appears alongside חוֹחַ (choach, 'thorn'), reinforcing a theme of wild, spiny growth as a symbol of desolation in idolatrous sites after judgment. Later translations (e.g., English 'thistle') reflect this, but the precise botanical identification remains uncertain, and the word does not correspond neatly to any known Near Eastern plant species. In post-biblical Hebrew, dardar does not continue, and later rabbinic discussions identify it variously as thistle, burr, or bramble. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for thorny plants (חוֹחַ, נַעֲצוּץ), further emphasizing its unique literary usage. English translations may obscure the original nuance by standardizing to 'thistle' or 'thorn.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a thorn; thistle.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דרדר (d-r-d-r) — thorn, spiny plant, bramble
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1863-01 |
וְ/דַרְדַּ֖ר | vedaredar | HC/Ncmsa |
and thistles | thorn-bush | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1863-01 |
Genesis 3:18 | וְ/דַרְדַּ֖ר | vedaredar | HC/Ncmsa |
and thistles | thorn-bush |
H1863-01 |
Hosea 10:8 | וְ/דַרְדַּ֔ר | vedaredar | HC/Ncmsa |
and thistles | thorn-bush |