nettle Summary and Overview

(1.) Heb. haral, "pricking" or "burning," Prov. 24:30, 31 (R.V. marg., "wild vetches"); Job 30:7; Zeph. 2:9. Many have supposed that some thorny or prickly plant is intended by this word, such as the bramble, the thistle, the wild plum, the cactus or prickly pear, etc. It may probably be a species of mustard, the Sinapis arvensis, which is a pernicious weed abounding in corn-fields. Tristram thinks that this word "designates the prickly acanthus (Acanthus spinosus), a very common and troublesome weed in the plains of Israel." (2.) Heb. qimmosh, Isa. 34:13; Hos. 9:6; Prov. 24:31 (in both versions, "thorns"). This word has been regarded as denoting thorns, thistles, wild camomile; but probably it is correctly rendered "nettle," the Urtica pilulifera, "a tall and vigorous plant, often 6 feet high, the sting of which is much more severe and irritating than that of our common nettle."

a well-known plant covered with minute sharp hairs; containing a poison that produces a painful, stifling sensation. It grows on neglected ground. A different Hebrew word in #Job 30:7; Pr 24:31; Zep 2:9| seems to indicate a different species.

charul. Job 30:7, "brambles" (Umbreit). But the bushmen of whom Job speaks "gathered together under the (tall) nettles" to boil them for potherbs (see Job 30:4). The root chaaral "to burn" also favors the Urtica; wrens, "burning" or "stinging nettle." Royle, from the Arabic khardul, our charlock, argues for the wild mustard. Also qimowsh; Isaiah 34:13.