Quick Definition
ἄκανθα, ης, ἡ n.f. a thorn-bush
Strong's Definition
probably from the same as 188; a thorn
KJV Usage: thorn
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ης | ἀκή (point, edge) · ἀκάνθινος
3.17 · Plants · Plants That Are Not Trees
thorn plant, thistle, brier any kind of plant with sharp projections on its stem and/or branches; regarded as useless; symbol of hardship Since plants having thorny projections are almost worldwide in distribution, there is no difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory term for such plants. In some instances, however, a descriptive equivalent may be necessary, for example, ‘plants with piercing points’ or ‘plants that stick into one’s flesh.’
MAT 7:16 · MAT 13:7 · MAT 13:7 · MAT 13:22 · MAT 27:29 · MRK 4:7 · MRK 4:7 · MRK 4:18 · LUK 6:44 · LUK 8:7 · LUK 8:7 · LUK 8:14 · JHN 19:2 · HEB 6:8
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἄκανθα, -ης, ἡ, (ἀκή a point [but see in ἀκμή]); a. a thorn, bramble-bush, brier: Mt. vii. 16; Lk. vi. 44; Heb. vi. 8; εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας i. 6. among the seeds of thorns, Mt. xiii. 22; Mk. iv. 7 [L mrg. ἐπί], 18 [Tdf. ἐπί]; Lk. viii. 14 (vs. 7 ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν) ; ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκ. i. 6. upon ground in which seeds of thorns were lying hidden, Mt. xiii. 7. b. a thorny plant: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν, Mt. xxvii. 29; Jn. xix. 2,—-for bare thorns might have caused delirium or even death; what species of plant is referred to, is not clear. Some boldly read ἀκάνθων, from ἄκανθος, acanthus, bear’s-foot; but the meaning of ἄκανθα is somewhat comprehensive even in prof. writ. ; ef. the class. Grk. Lexx. s. v. [On the “Crown of thorns” see BB.DD. s. v., and for reff. Me. and 5.7
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἄκανθα akantha 14x
a thorn, thornbush, Mt. 7:16; 13:7; 27:29
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἄκανθα, -ης, ἡ
(< ἀκή, a point), [in LXX chiefly for קוֹץ, also for סִיר, שַׁיִת, etc.;]
a prickly plant, thorn, brier; in NT always pl.: Mt 7:16 13:7, 22 27:29, Mk 4:7, 18, Lk 6:44 8:7, 14, Jo 19:2, He 6:8 (v. MM, VGT, s.v.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἄκανθα. In P Oxy III. 646 (time of Hadrian) a legacy includes κλείνη ἀκανθίνη, z.e. a couch made of acantha-wood (Herod. ii. 96, Strabo 175). Sir F. G. Kenyon (P Lond I. p. 140), calls it ‘‘the Egyptian acacia from which gum arabic is obtained, and whose branches were in early times used for boat-building.” Its pods are mentioned in P Leid X (iii/iv A.D.), a long list of chemical prescriptions : J. 35 (p. 237) ἀκάνθης κεράτια. The name, or derivatives of it, may be seen in P Lond 214}8 8. (a.p. 270-5) (ΞΞ 11. p. 162), 16. 1177277 (a.D. 113) (=TIII. p. 186), P Oxy I. 121‘ (iii/a.p.), 7b. VI. 9091? (A.D. 225), 26. VIII. 11125 (A.D. 188), P Flor I. 50% (A.D. 268), etc. This evidence isolates further the word as used in Mark and John (Isa 341%) ; but the meaning there is not shaken We need not discuss the identification of ἄκανθα, ἄκανθος (so MGr ἀγκάθι, Pontic ἀχάντι, thorn”), and the derived adjective, as occurring in Egypt: in the NT the exact nature of the thorny plant indicated is indeterminate : see Zzc. Bzb/. 5059 f.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἄκανθα (akantha) — a thorn. ἄκανθ-α [ᾰκ], ης, ἡ, (ἀκή A) thorn, prickle, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
1. any thorny or prickly plant (in [Refs 8th c.BC+] probably Eryngium campestre), [Refs 5th c.BC+] no thistles, i.e. 'an easy job', [Refs 5th c.BC+] —special kinds: ἄ. Ἀραβική smaller milk-thistle, Notobasis syriaca, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἄ. βασιλική fish-thistle, Cnicus Acarna, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄ. Ἰνδική, = Balsamodendron Mukul, [Refs]; ἄ. λευκή Acacia albida, [Refs]; ={ἄ. βασιλική}, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἄ. λευκὴ τρίοζος, = Euphorbia antiquorum, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄ. ἀκανώδης (probably) cornthistle, Carduus arvensis, [Refs]
2. of other plants, e.g. Spanish broom, Spartium junceum, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄ. μέλαινα Acacia arabica, [LXX+5th c.BC+]; ἄ. διψάς, = Acacia tortilis, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. central flowering-bud of χαμαιλέων λευκός,[Refs 1st c.AD+]
4. ={ἄκανθος}, Ps.-[Refs 1st c.AD+]
5. in plural, prickles or spines of the hedgehog and of certain fish, Ion Trag.38, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
6. backbone or spine of fish, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of serpents, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of men, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; improperly used of mammalia, accusative to [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; χονδρώδεις ἄ. false ribs, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
7. metaphorically in plural, thorny questions, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]