King James Bible Dictionary

1. Heb. haral, "pricking" or "burning," Proverbs 24:30, 31 (R.V. marg., "wild vetches"); Job 30:7; Zephaniah 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 Palestine."

2. Heb. qimmosh, Isaiah 34:13; Hosea 9:6; Proverbs 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; Proverbs 24:31; Zephaniah 2:9) seems to indicate a different species.

NETTLE, noun A plant of the genus Urtica, whose prickles fret the skin and occasion very painful sensations.

And near the noisome nettle blooms the rose.

NETTLE, verb transitive To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to excite sensations of displeasure or uneasiness, not amounting to wrath or violent anger.

The princes were nettled at the scandal of this affront.

NETTLED, participle passive Fretted; irritated.

NETTLER, noun One that provokes, stings or irritates.

An obnoxious plant
Proverbs 24:31; Isaiah 34:13

Figurative
Job 30:7; Hosea 9:6; Zephaniah 2:9

NETTLE-TREE, noun A tree of the genus Celtis whose leaves are deeply serrated, and end in a sharp point.