צָנִין
𐤑𐤍𐤉𐤍
tsânîyn
H6796 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A hard, sharp-pointed object produced by certain plants, such as a spine or thorn; specifically denotes a plant structure designed for defense or deterrence, typically found among arid or desert vegetation. The term is used to denote actual thorns or thorny plants, not metaphorically, in its biblical context.
Semantic Range
thorn, spine, prickle, thorny plant
Root / Etymology
Root: צננ. The word is related to the noun צֵן (tsen), meaning 'thorn' or 'thornbush.' The root צננ conveys the idea of being sharp or pointed. צָנִין (tsânîyn) directly derives from this root and refers to a specific type of thorny object or plant part distinguished by its pointed nature.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צָנִין appears in poetic and descriptive contexts (e.g., Numbers 33:55; Ezekiel 28:24) to evoke imagery of physical pain, hindrance, or obstruction through actual vegetation, rather than as a metaphor for personal or national adversaries. While commonly rendered 'thorn' in English translations, the understanding of this term must be situated in the botanical and environmental context of the ancient southern Levant, where thorny plants were a familiar hazard. The distinction between צָנִין and related terms such as חָדֵק (ḥādeq, 'thorn') or קוֹץ (qots, 'thorn, brier') is subtle and sometimes contested; צָנִין seems to designate a particular kind of larger or more persistent thorn, likely characteristic of arid regions. In post-biblical Hebrew, related terms are employed with similar meaning, but usage may broaden or become more metaphorical. English translations occasionally obscure botanic distinctions by uniformly rendering several different Hebrew words as 'thorn.' No later religious or ethnic nuance attaches to this term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or צָנִן; from the same as צֵן; a thorn; thorn.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צננ (ts-n-n) — to prick, to be sharp, to be pointed
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6796-01 |
וְ/לִ/צְנִינִ֖ם | velitseninim | HC/R/Ncmpa |
and-for-thorns | and to thorns | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6796-01 |
Numbers 33:55 | וְ/לִ/צְנִינִ֖ם | velitseninim | HC/R/Ncmpa |
and thorns | and to thorns | |
H6796-01 |
Joshua 23:13 | וְ/לִ/צְנִנִ֣ים | velitseninim | HC/R/Ncmpa |
and-for-thorns | and to thorns |