βάτος (G942) — Greek Lexicon

βάτος

bátos

G942 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A thorny shrub or bush, typically characterized by spiny or prickly branches; used in reference to various types of wild, often uncultivated, bushes, particularly those bearing thorns or brambles. In biblical contexts, refers to the plant through which a voice speaks to Moses (Exodus 3), denoting a generic bramble, bush, or thorny undergrowth rather than a botanical species. The word may also serve generically for dense low-lying shrubbery or undergrowth.

Semantic Range

thorny bush, bramble, briar, prickly shrub, thicket, undergrowth

Root / Etymology

of uncertain derivation; no clear connection to other Greek words established. Possibly related by root meaning to Semitic words for thorny or brambled plants, e.g. Hebrew סְנֶה (sneh), but no definitive etymological link.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature, βάτος can refer broadly to thick prickly shrubs, brambles, or even the blackberry bush (Rubus species), but in Koine and biblical usage, the term is less botanically specific. In the Septuagint, βάτος is used in the retelling of Exodus 3 (the 'burning bush') to translate Hebrew סְנֶה, without specifying plant species and focusing on the generic thorny character. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:30, 35), βάτος points back to the same narrative and is often rendered 'bush' or (less precisely) 'bramble' in English. The Vulgate translates with rubus, similarly obscuring exact botanic reference. English Bible traditions often simply render 'bush,' though this can miss the idea of prickliness or wildness intrinsic to the Greek term. There appears to be no significant lexical differentiation between this term and botanical terms for non-thorny shrubbery. The semantic range does not include trees, cultivated vines, or larger flora.

Translation Consistency

primary "bush" 5 occurrences

"Bush" is the most natural, broadly used English noun for βάτος in biblical contexts (e.g. the 'burning bush') and comfortably covers bramble/briar/thorny undergrowth senses. It is short, idiomatic, and will render consistently across forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain derivation; a brier shrub:--bramble, bush.

Root Family

βάτος (batos) — thorny bush, bramble, prickly undergrowth

Root βατ- thorny bush, bramble, prickly undergrowth

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G943	βάτος	bath measures

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G942-02`	βάτου	batou	`N GEN M SG`	bush	of a thorny bush	of a thorny bush	4
`G942-01`	βάτῳ	bato	`N DAT F SG`	bush	to a thorny bush	bush	1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G942-02`	Mark 12:26	βάτου	batou	`N GEN M SG`	bush	of a thorny bush	of a thorny bush
`G942-02`	Luke 6:44	βάτου	batou	`N GEN F SG`	bramble	of a thorny bush	of a thorny bush
`G942-02`	Luke 20:37	βάτου	batou	`N GEN F SG`	bush	of a thorny bush	of a thorny bush
`G942-02`	Acts 7:30	βάτου	batou	`N GEN F SG`	bush	of a thorny bush	of a thorny bush
`G942-01`	Acts 7:35	βάτῳ	bato	`N DAT F SG`	bush	to a thorny bush	bush

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