- Weeds are described by seventeen different Hebrew and Greek words in the bible to also mean thorns thistles and briers.
- Weeds also signify people that are disobedient to God who will eventually have their place in hellfire.
- Weeds were used to describe a place that was deserted and without an active social life.
The holy book is basically divided into two. The old and the New Testament. The Old Testament has 39 books while the New Testament has 27. The catholic faith has additional 7 books referred to as the deuterocanonical.
Weeds in agricultural terms are generally seen as plants that are not valued where they are growing. This is because weeds usually grow to choke and negatively affect the development of desired plants.
What Has the Bible got to do with Weeds?
Most bible characters have been described to be predominantly hunters or farmers. A good example will link us to the story of Adam and his two sons, Cain and Abel. Adam who is the first man was himself a farmer. God had put him in the Garden of Eden to take care of it. (Gen 2:15). His son Cain whose sacrifice was rejected was as well a farmer. This suggests that they were familiar with weeds.
There were however other few people mentioned in the bible who had other vocations. For example, Apostle Paul was a tentmaker, Joseph the foster father of Jesus was a carpenter and Luke was a physician.
Because most biblical characters were agrarian, the use of weeds especially by Jesus to give stories (Parables) became imminent. He did this so that the people could easily relate to his teaching. It is also important to note that God the father also made references to weeds. Let’s look at it!
What about weeds in the bible?
1. Weeds Connote Curse or Retribution
In Zephaniah 2:9 when a prophecy was pronounced against the Ammonites, God said their place will be like Gomorrah – a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever.
Weed was used in this instance to describe a place that is deserted and without an active social life. A place that has been stricken and cursed. Most places that have not been inhabited for long will naturally be overtaken by weeds, a sight that will not be pleasant to behold.
2. Weeds Are Used to Describe a Lazy Person
This is clearly stated in proverbs 24:30-31 “I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds and the stone wall was in ruins.”
In ancient times and even today, any person that allows weeds and thorns to grow in his farm is seen as a lazy man. He does not want to lift a finger to clear the ground for a better yield. Neat fields or farms are achieved through hard work.
3. Used to Describe Bad People
In Mathew chapter 13:24-30, 36-43, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a person who sows good seeds in a field. An enemy however came and planted weeds among the wheat. The two grew together with the permission of the master.
This endured till harvest time when the reapers collected the weeds, bound them into bundles, and destroyed them in the fire. The wheat however was collected and kept in barns.
This bible story paints the picture of Jesus and Satan. The good seeds are people who hear God’s word and obey. They are the ones who do the bidding of God and are qualified for heaven.
The weeds on the other hand depict people that disobey God’s word. They are sons of the enemy who go about spoiling everything good that the father does. At the end of time, they have a place in hellfire.
4. Used as a Factor to Constitute Worry and Unfruitfulness
Mathew 13:1-23 gives us another account of a sower whose seed fell on four types of grounds. These are ‘the path’, ‘rocky ground’, ‘the thorns’, and good soil.
Thorns are actually prickly weeds. Research shows that weeds are described by seventeen different Hebrew and Greek words in the bible. Even though they are often translated as briers, thistles, and thorns, they are weeds.
Jesus himself later withdrew his disciples and told them that the seeds that fell among thorns represent a man who hears the word but allows the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth to choke it and make it unfruitful.
5. Refer to People Who Are worthless
2nd Samuel 23:6-7 “But the worthless, every one of them will be thrust away like thorns…” Because weeds affect general crop yield and compete with desired plants for nutrients, they are seen by farmers as worthless. They are usually destroyed when they are removed. The bible uses this analogy as well to warn people that are disobedient to God.
