The Discovery of Genesis (48 page)

God had said to Adam, “‘Cursed is the ground because of you, …
thorns and thistles
it shall bring forth to you’” (Genesis 3:17, 18). Implements have been used through the ages, and more recently, machines have been invented and various chemical poisons produced in an attempt to destroy the ever-present and unwanted weeds that thrive and thwart man’s agricultural efforts. Mankind has certainly been punished by these noxious plants through all time, but the world as a whole little realizes that “thorns and thistles” were placed on the earth as a “curse.” It appears that the venerable Chinese recognized them as a form of punishment to the human family.

There are two characters for
thorns or brambles
,
and
, which tell the Genesis story. The character
has two parts.
Grass, weeds, or plant life is
, and it will be remembered that this radical was first encountered in the word
sorrow
, in reference to Adam’s punishment (see page 70). The remaining portion of the character will be recognized as
punishment
. The Chinese hereby record
weeds, plants
as a
punishment
, and
thorns
were seen as a curse for man’s transgression.