But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.
Parallel translations
- WEB But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand,
- KJV But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
- NKJV But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands.
- NASB “But the worthless, every one of them, are like scattered thorns, Because they cannot be taken in hand;
- NLT But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away, for they tear the hand that touches them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The ungodly are like thorns that cannot be safely handled and must be cast away.
Overview
In contrast to the fruitful blessing of righteous rule, the wicked are pictured as worthless, dangerous thorns. This imagery echoes throughout Scripture as a warning of judgment, pointing to the final separation of the righteous and the wicked that Christ Himself will accomplish.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Ezek 2:6But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house.
- Isa 33:12The peoples will be burned to ashes, like thorns cut down and set ablaze.
- Deut 13:13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known),
- Song 2:2Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.
- Gen 3:18Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
- 2 Sam 20:1Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
- 1 Sam 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
- Matt 13:41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 23:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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