1. Overview

βάτος (batos), pronounced “BAH-tos,” is a Greek noun that primarily refers to a “thorn bush” or “bramble.” The word is found in both the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) and the New Testament, and it derives from the Hebrew word seneh, which also means “thorn bush” or “bramble.” In its literal sense, batos describes a type of plant known for its thorns, often used to symbolize difficulty, obstruction, or divine intervention in biblical contexts.

2. Lexical Details

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BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich) identifies batos as a noun meaning “thorn bush” or “bramble.” BDAG highlights its usage in the New Testament, particularly in the context of the burning bush encountered by Moses, which is one of the most famous references to this word. BDAG also notes that batos can be used metaphorically to describe situations of difficulty or divine testing.

Thayer’s Lexicon agrees with BDAG in defining batos as a thorny plant, specifically a bramble or thorn bush. Thayer’s emphasizes the word’s symbolic significance in the biblical narrative, particularly in the Old Testament where it represents God’s presence and communication with Moses through the burning bush. Thayer’s also points out that the term can be used figuratively to describe obstacles or challenges that one might encounter.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary elaborates on the significance of batos, noting that while it primarily refers to a physical thorn bush, its usage in Scripture often carries deeper theological implications. Vine’s highlights the word’s connection to the divine encounter in Exodus 3, where God appears to Moses in a burning batos, signifying both the holy ground and the divine mission given to Moses.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) traces the classical usage of batos, indicating that the term was commonly used in ancient Greek literature to describe any type of thorny shrub or bramble. LSJ notes that while the word had a straightforward botanical meaning, it also appeared in metaphorical contexts to signify difficulties or obstacles.

Biblical references:

• Luke 20:37: “But in the account of the bush (βάτου), even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’” In this verse, batos refers to the burning bush in which God revealed Himself to Moses, a symbol of God’s enduring presence and authority.
• Mark 12:26: “Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the bush (βάτου), how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?” Here again, batos is used to refer to the burning bush, emphasizing the continuity of God’s covenant with the patriarchs.

3. Classical Usage

In classical Greek literature, batos was often used to describe thorny bushes or brambles, particularly those found in wild or uncultivated areas.

• Homer, Odyssey: Homer uses batos to describe the rough, thorny vegetation that Odysseus encounters during his travels, symbolizing the physical and metaphorical obstacles in his journey.
• Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus: In this play, batos is used to describe the desolate, thorny area surrounding the grove of the Furies, representing the harsh and unforgiving nature of fate.
• Plato, Republic: Plato employs batos metaphorically to discuss the challenges and difficulties faced by those who seek to live a just life, likening them to the thorns that obstruct one’s path.

These examples from classical literature demonstrate how batos was commonly used to depict physical barriers or metaphorical obstacles, reflecting the word’s deep association with difficulty and challenge.

4. Summary

The Greek noun batos (G942) primarily refers to a “thorn bush” or “bramble,” a type of plant known for its thorns. Lexical sources such as BDAG, Thayer’s, and Vine’s highlight the word’s literal and metaphorical usage in biblical contexts, particularly in reference to the burning bush encountered by Moses in the Old Testament. In classical Greek literature, batos was used to describe both physical thorny plants and metaphorical obstacles, illustrating its versatility as a term that conveys difficulty, obstruction, and divine encounter. The word batos serves as a powerful symbol in both the Bible and classical literature, representing the challenges one must overcome and the divine presence that guides and supports through these trials.