A Landscape with Trees, Thorn Bushes, and a DoveFollower of Hans Schilling / Workshop of Diebold Lauber (German) · 1469

Bramble

אָטָד/BRAM-buhl/

“A thorny shrub”

Summary

A thorny bush, most famous from Jotham's fable where the bramble represents an unworthy ruler who nevertheless assumes authority.

☩Jotham's Fable

In the oldest fable in Scripture, Jotham tells of trees seeking a king. The olive, fig, and vine all refuse to rule, but the worthless bramble accepts, offering shade it cannot provide and threatening to consume the cedars with fire. The bramble represents Abimelech, an unworthy ruler who brings destruction.

Key verses:Judges 9:14-15

☩Identification

The Hebrew 'atad' likely refers to the Southern buckthorn (Rhamnus paliurus), also called Christ's thorn from the tradition that it provided the crown of thorns for Jesus. It is a shrub with many branches armed with spines, growing ten to fifteen feet high.

Key verses:Luke 6:44

Related Verses4 mentions

Judges· 2 verses

9:14 9:15

Isaiah· 1 verse

34:13

Luke· 1 verse

6:44

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Bramble," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Bramble," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).