tribolos denotes a prickly plant named alongside thorns, used of unproductive growth and of what does not yield fruit.

The two attestations use the term for a prickly plant associated with thorns: in one verse it marks growth that makes land worthless, and in the other it contrasts with the plants from which fruit is gathered.

1. Prickly growth contrasted with fruitful plants · dominant

   In Hebrews 6:8, the accusative plural occurs in the clause about ground that bears thorns and thistles; the APB renders the verse, "But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned." In Matthew 7:16, the genitive plural appears in the question about gathering grapes from thorns or figs from thistles; the APB renders, "You will come to know them from their fruit. Surely they do not gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?"

   Hebrews 6:8Matthew 7:16

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term as "thistles" in both verses, each time alongside "thorns." This rendering is confirmed by the surrounding paired plant language rather than by a direct token alignment.