2 Samuel 23:6-7

23:6 But evil people are like thorns –

all of them are tossed away,

for they cannot be held in the hand.

23:7 The one who touches them

must use an iron instrument

or the wooden shaft of a spear.

They are completely burned up right where they lie!” ¹ 

Isaiah 55:13

55:13 Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,

firs will grow in place of nettles;

they will be a monument to the Lord, ² 

a permanent reminder that will remain. ³ 

Ezekiel 2:6

2:6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words – even though briers ⁴  and thorns ⁵  surround you and you live among scorpions – do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, ⁶  for they are a rebellious house!

Hebrews 6:8

6:8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; ⁷  its fate is to be burned.

[23:7]  ¹ tn Heb “and with fire they are completely burned up in [the place where they] remain.” The infinitive absolute is used before the finite verb to emphasize that they are completely consumed by the fire.

[55:13]  ² tn Heb “to the Lord for a name.” For שֵׁם (shem) used in the sense of “monument,” see also 56:5, where it stands parallel to יָד (yad).

[55:13]  ³ tn Or, more literally, “a permanent sign that will not be cut off.”

[2:6]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.

[2:6]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24.

[2:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “of their faces.”

[6:8]  ⁷ tn Grk “near to a curse.”