σκόλοψ (skolops)
skolops
thorn
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun skolops refers to a sharp, pointed object, specifically a thorn or splinter. In classical Greek it often described a wooden stake, but in the Hellenistic vernacular it came to mean a thorn that pierces the skin. The sources note its appearance in the Septuagint translations of Hebrew words for briers and thorns, linking it to themes of obstruction and pain.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 12:7, where Paul describes a "thorn in the flesh." The imagery suggests a persistent, irritating affliction that causes physical or spiritual discomfort. Translators typically render it as "thorn," capturing the sense of something small but deeply bothersome that cannot be easily removed.
The theological weight of this term lies in its association with enduring hardship. Paul uses it to illustrate a limitation he accepted rather than a curse he sought to escape. The word conveys not just pain, but a constant reminder of human vulnerability, serving as a focal point for understanding grace in weakness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word skolops describes a sharp thorn or splinter. It appears only once in the New Testament, where Paul calls it a "thorn in the flesh." This was not a minor annoyance but a persistent difficulty that caused him deep discomfort. He did not hide from it or pretend it was gone. Instead, he carried it as a constant reminder of his own limits.
Paul’s experience shows us that God does not always remove our hardest struggles. Sometimes, grace is found in the strength to endure them. When we feel overwhelmed by pain or weakness, we can look to Paul’s example. He discovered that God’s power works best when we admit we cannot fix ourselves. Your own burdens may feel heavy, but they do not define your worth.
There is hope in this reality. You are not alone in your suffering. The same grace that sustained Paul is available to you today. Let this truth bring you peace, knowing that your weakness is an open door for God’s strength to shine through.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a thorn1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σκόλοψ1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 12:7
By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
This verse uniquely identifies the thorn as a "messenger of Satan" allowed by God to keep Paul humble, showing that even painful afflictions can serve a protective spiritual purpose.