King James Bible Dictionary

THIS, definitive adjective or substitute. plural these.

1. this is a definitive, or definitive adjective, denoting something that is present or near in place or time, or something just mentioned. Is this your younger brother? What trespass is this which ye have committed?

Who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? John 9:2.

When they heard this they were pricked to the heart. Acts 2:6.

In the latter passage, this is a substitute for what had preceded, vix. the discourse of Peter just delivered. In like manner, this often represents a word, a sentence or clause, or a series of sentences of events.

In some cases, it refers to what is future, or to be immediately related.

But know this that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Matthew 24:14.

Here this refers to the whole subsequent member of the sentence.

2. By this is used elliptically for by this time; as, by this the mail has arrived.

3. this is used with words denoting time past; as, I have taken no snuff for this month; and often with plural words. I have not wept this forty years.

In this case, this in the singular, refers to the whole term of time, or period; this period of forty years.

4. this is opposed to that.

THIS way and that the wav'ring sails they bend.

A body of this or that denomination is produced.

THIS and that, in this use, denote difference indefinitely.

5. When this and that refer to different things before expressed, this refers to the thing last mentioned, and that to the thing first mentioned. [See These.]

Their judgment in this we may not, and in that we need not, follow.

6. It is sometimes opposed to other.

Consider the arguments which the author had to write this or to design the other, before you arraign him.

1. Heb. hoah (2 Kings 14:9; Job 31:40). In Job 41:2 the Hebrew word is rendered "thorn," but in the Revised Version "hook." It is also rendered "thorn" in 2 Chronicles 33:11; Proverbs 26:9; Song of Solomon 2:2; "brambles" in Isaiah 34:13. It is supposed to be a variety of the wild plum-tree, but by some it is regarded as the common thistle, of which there are many varieties in Palestine.

2. Heb. dardar, meaning "a plant growing luxuriantly" (Genesis 3:18; Hosea 10:8); Gr. tribolos, "a triple point" (Matthew 7:16; Hebrews 6:8, "brier," R.V. "thistle"). This was probably the star-thistle, called by botanists Centaurea calcitropa, or "caltrops," a weed common in corn-fields. (See THORNS.)

A noxious plant
Genesis 3:18; Job 31:40; Hosea 10:8

Parables of
2 Kings 14:9; 2 Chronicles 25:18; Matthew 7:16

[THORNS AND THISTLES]

THISTLE, noun this'l. The common name of numerous prickly plants of the class Syngenesia, and several genera; as the common corn thistle or Canada thistle of the genus Serratula or Cnicus; the spear thistle of the genus Cnicus; the milk thistle of the genus Carduus; the blessed thistle of the genus Centaurea; the globe thistle of the genus Echinops; the cotton thistle of the genus Onopordon; and the sow thistle of the genus Sonchus. The name is also given to other prickly plants not of the class Syngenesia; as the fuller's thistle or teasel of the genus Dipsacus, and the melon thistle and torch thistle of the genus Cactus.

One species of thistle (Cnicus arvensis, ) grows in fields among grain, and is extremely troublesome to farmers. It is called in America the Canada thistle as it first appeared in Canada, where it was probably introduced from France, as it abounds in Normandy, and also in England. A larger species in America (Cnicus lanceolatus, ) is indigenous, but it spreads slowly and gives no trouble.

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring froth to thee. Genesis 3:18.

THISTLY, adjective this'ly. Overgrown with thistles; as thistly ground.