2 Samuel 23:6-7
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This verse isn't just saying wicked people are annoying like thorns; it highlights their ultimate uselessness to God's purposes. The phrase "cannot be taken with the hand" points to their inability to be grasped or utilized for anything good, marking them for rejection rather than redemption in that moment. They're not just bad; they're fundamentally unusable in God's kingdom.
But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is speaking about the righteous and the wicked, contrasting their eternal destinies and the way they are treated by God. This passage, near the end of David's life, offers his final words, a poetic testament that describes how those who live apart from God will be discarded like unusable thorns, while the faithful will flourish like well-watered trees. The verse immediately before speaks of the righteous being cherished, setting up this stark comparison of the wicked's ultimate fate.
The Bible doesn't shy away from calling out what's truly without value. What separates something precious from something worthless in God's eyes?
In this verse, David uses a vivid image to describe those who are 'worthless.'
What Does 'Worthless' Mean Here?
It's not just about being useless; it's about being actively harmful and ultimately discarded. These aren't just people who don't contribute – they are like thorns that get in the way, cause pain, and have to be removed.
The Danger of Thorns
Thorns are a nuisance. They prick, they tear, and they make it impossible to hold onto what you want. In ancient agriculture, they were a significant problem, needing to be cleared before planting or harvesting. David likens worthless individuals to these things that are 'thrown away' because they are not only unusable but also detrimental.
God's Perspective
This isn't just a human judgment. It reflects a divine perspective on actions and character. While God is full of grace, His Word is also clear about the consequences of living a life characterized by harmful, ungodly ways.
Why are these 'worthless men' compared to thorns that 'cannot be taken with the hand'? What does this 'un-graspable' nature reveal?
The phrase 'for they cannot be taken with the hand' is crucial. It highlights not just their worthlessness, but their dangerous and unapproachable nature.
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A Painful Encounter
You can't just pick up a thorny branch or weed without getting hurt. Trying to handle them directly is met with pain and resistance. This signifies individuals who, when confronted or dealt with directly in their ungodly ways, bring harm to those who try to 'take hold' of them.
An Obstacle to Blessing
These are individuals who resist correction and actively cause harm. They become obstacles to the good work God is trying to do, much like thorns would impede a farmer. Their very nature makes them impossible to incorporate into something good or useful without causing damage.
Ultimately Removed
The implication is clear: because they are harmful and cannot be safely handled or integrated, they must be removed. This points to a necessary separation between the righteous and the unrighteous, the valuable and the worthless.
Understand the original words
beliyya'al · Hebrew Noun
A term often used in wisdom literature and historical narrative to describe those who are morally corrupt, rebellious, or lacking spiritual integrity, standing in opposition to God’s order.
qowts · Hebrew Noun
A symbolic term in Scripture frequently denoting sin, the curse, or the remnants of a fallen world that cause pain and must be cleared away by God's judgment.
esh · Hebrew Noun
A recurring image of divine judgment; God is described as a consuming fire, signifying the purification of His creation and the destruction of what is opposed to His holiness.
This passage uses a similar metaphor of thorns and briars to describe an enemy who is insignificant and worthless, echoing the sentiment in 2 Samuel 23:6.
Judges 9:15Here, Jotham uses the metaphor of thorns and fire to describe worthless and destructive individuals who bring ruin, highlighting the danger and worthlessness of such people.
Matthew 7:19Jesus warns that 'every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire,' a parallel to how worthless things, like thorns, are discarded and destroyed.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10This passage lists various sinful behaviors and warns that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God, implying their ultimate worthlessness and exclusion from God's presence, much like thorns being thrown away.
This verse isn't just saying wicked people are annoying like thorns; it highlights their ultimate uselessness to God's purposes. The phrase "cannot be taken with the hand" points to their inability to be grasped or utilized for anything good, marking them for rejection rather than redemption in that moment. They're not just bad; they're fundamentally unusable in God's kingdom.
David is speaking about the righteous and the wicked, contrasting their eternal destinies and the way they are treated by God. This passage, near the end of David's life, offers his final words, a poetic testament that describes how those who live apart from God will be discarded like unusable thorns, while the faithful will flourish like well-watered trees. The verse immediately before speaks of the righteous being cherished, setting up this stark comparison of the wicked's ultimate fate.
David is speaking about the righteous and the wicked, contrasting their eternal destinies and the way they are treated by God. This passage, near the end of David's life, offers his final words, a poetic testament that describes how those who live apart from God will be discarded like unusable thorns, while the faithful will flourish like well-watered trees. The verse immediately before speaks of the righteous being cherished, setting up this stark comparison of the wicked's ultimate fate.
"But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fi…" — This verse isn't just saying wicked people are annoying like thorns; it highlights their ultimate uselessness to God's purposes. The phrase "cannot be taken with the hand" points to their inability t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
