Brier
/BRY-er/
Summary
A thorny shrub used in Scripture to symbolize desolation, worthless people, or obstacles; several Hebrew words are translated as brier.
☩Symbolic Usage
Briers appear frequently in prophetic literature as symbols of judgment and desolation. Isaiah speaks of land that would be covered with briers and thorns as a sign of divine judgment. Micah compares corrupt leaders to briers that catch and scratch anyone who comes near them.
Key verses:Isaiah 5:6Isaiah 7:23-25Micah 7:4
☩As Instruments of Punishment
Gideon threatened to punish the elders of Succoth with thorns and briers of the wilderness for refusing to help his army. Ezekiel speaks of rebels as briers and thorns among whom the prophet must dwell.
Key verses:Judges 8:7Judges 8:16Ezekiel 2:6
Related Verses15 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Brier," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Brier," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Brier," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).