ἄκανθ-α [ ᾰκ], ης, ἡ, (ἀκή A) thorn, prickle, Arist. PA 655a19, Thphr. HP 6.1.3: hence,
1. any thorny or prickly plant (in Od. 5.328 (pl.) prob. Eryngium campestre), S. Fr. 718, Eub. 107.19, Theoc. 1.132, etc.: prov., οὐ γὰρ ἄκανθαι no thistles, i.e. ’an easy job’, Ar. Fr. 272, 483: - special kinds: ἄ. Ἀραβική smaller milk-thistle, Notobasis syriaca, Dsc. 3.13; ἄ. βασιλική fish-thistle, Cnicus Acarna, Thphr. CP 1.10.5; ἄ. Ἰνδική, = Balsamodendron Mukul, Id. HP 9.1.2; ἄ. λευκή Acacia albida, ib. 4.2.8; = ἄ. βασιλική, Dsc. 3.12; ἄ. λευκὴ τρίοζος, = Euphorbia antiquorum, Thphr. HP 4.4.12; ἄ. ἀκανώδης (prob.) cornthistle, Carduus arvensis, ib. 10.6.
2. of other plants, e.g. Spanish broom, Spartium junceum, Str. 3.5.10: - = ἀκακία, ἄ. Αἰγυπτία, Thphr. HP 9.1.2. cf. POxy. 1188.10 (13 A. D.), etc.; ἄ. μέλαινα Acacia arabica, Thphr. HP 4.2.8, cf. Hdt. 2.96, Thd. [Isa 41:19]; ἄ. δψάς, = Acacia tortilis, Thphr. HP 4.7.1.
3. centralflowering-bud of χαμαιλέων λευκός, ib. 9.12.1, Dsc. 3.8.
4. = ἄκανθος, Ps.- Dsc. 3.17.
5. in pl., prickles or spines of the hedgehog and of certain fish, Ion Trag.38, Arist. HA 530b8.
6. backbone or spine of fish, A. Fr. 275, Ar. V. 969, Alex. 110.11,al.; of serpents, Hdt. 2.75, Theoc. 24.32, A.R. 4.150; of men, Hdt. 4.72, Hp. Art. 14, E. El. 492, Arist. PA 654a26, Gal. 2.451, etc.; improperly used of mammalia, acc. to Arist. AP 0.98a22; of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, Gal. 2.758; χονδρώδεις ἄ. false ribs, Ruf. Oss. 25.
7. metaph. in pl., thorny questions, Luc. Hes. 5, Ath. 3.97d.
G173 — ἄκανθα
(ης, ἡ (ἀκή a point (but see in ἀκμή));
a. a thorn bramble-bush, brier: [Mat 7:16]; [Luk 6:44]; [Heb 6:8]; εἰς τάς ἀκάνθας i. e. among the seeds of thorns, [Mat 13:22]; [Mar 4:7] (L margin: ἐπί), 18 (Tdf. ἐπί); [Luk 8:14] ([Luk 8:7] ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν); ἐπί τάς ἀκάνθας, i. e. upon ground in which seeds of thorns were lying hidden, [Mat 13:7].
b. a thorny plant: στέφανον ἐξ ἀκανθῶν, [Mat 27:29]; [Joh 19:2] — for bare thorns might have caused delirium or even death; what species of plant is referred to, is not clear. Some boldly read ἀκανθῶν, from ἄκανθος, acanthus, bear's foot; but the meaning of ἄκανθα is somewhat comprehensive even in secular writings cf. the classical Greek Lexicons under the word (On the see BB. DD. under the word, and for references McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia.)
ἄκανθα , - ης , ἡ
( < ἀκή , a point),
[in LXX chiefly for H6975, also f o r H5518, H7898, etc.;]
a prickly plant, thorn, brier; in NT always pl .:
[Mat 7:16] [Mat 13:7]; [Mat 13:22] [Mat 27:29], [Mar 4:7]; [Mar 4:18], [Luk 6:44]; [Luk 8:7]; [Luk 8:14] [Joh 19:2], [Heb 6:8] ( v . MM , VGT , s.v. ). †