Thorn In The Flesh

The expression “thorn in the flesh” originates from the New Testament and has become an enduring metaphor in English for a persistent source of difficulty or irritation. Its earliest known usage is attributed to the Apostle Paul in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, where he employed the phrase to describe an affliction or trial that served to humble him. Over time, its biblical, theological and cultural resonances have contributed to wide-ranging interpretations and applications.

Biblical Background and Linguistic Origins

In Christian scripture, the metaphor of a thorn appears in several contexts within both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul refers to “a thorn in the flesh” as something given to him to prevent exaltation following profound revelations. The exact nature of this thorn is intentionally unstated, leaving readers and scholars to explore its possible meanings.
The metaphor aligns with earlier Hebrew Bible usage. Passages such as Joshua 23:13 and Ezekiel 28:24 employ images of thorns, scourges and snares to describe adversaries or hardships that challenge the people of Israel. These Old Testament occurrences frame thorns as symbols of persistent trouble, discomfort or danger, reinforcing the metaphorical weight carried into Paul’s writings.
The English phrasing became standard through the 1611 King James Version of the Bible, whose translation popularised many expressions still used today. Prior translations rendered the metaphor differently. William Tyndale’s 1526 version used “unquietness” in place of “thorn”, reflecting an interpretative choice emphasising emotional disturbance rather than physical imagery. The 1557 Geneva Bible offered the phrase “a pricke in the flesh”, signalling an evolving linguistic understanding of the metaphor prior to the King James consensus.

Interpretations of Paul’s Usage

Paul’s reference to the thorn in 2 Corinthians 12:6–7 forms part of a larger argument concerning humility, divine grace and the nature of apostolic authority. While he provides reflective context, he offers no explicit identification of the thorn itself. This ambiguity has invited extensive theological debate and scholarly analysis.
Many prominent scholars, including Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, F. F. Bruce and Ralph P. Martin, assert that the available evidence does not permit a definitive conclusion. They argue that the lack of detail in Paul’s epistles suggests that the meaning was either self-evident to his original audience or deliberately withheld to shift attention from the specific affliction to the broader theological message.
Other academics have proposed more detailed hypotheses. Some suggest that the “thorn” refers to a messenger of Satan, drawing on the phrase used in Paul’s text. This interpretation often links the concept to experiences of spiritual conflict or visionary encounters. Scholars such as B. J. Oropeza, M. David Litwa and Paula Gooder explore the idea that Paul’s reference relates to a visionary ascent—possibly the so-called “third heaven”—and its aftermath. Within this view, the thorn may symbolise an antagonistic spiritual force encountered in relation to mystical experiences.
A long-standing traditional perspective interprets the thorn as signifying persecution or social opposition faced by Paul during the expansion of early Christianity in the Roman world. This understanding aligns with the recurring emphasis on suffering and endurance found throughout Pauline letters. Other proposed interpretations include:

• Persistent temptations or suggestions of impiety.
• Paul’s sorrow over the rejection of the gospel by some members of the Jewish community.
• Hostility and rivalry from opponents or false apostles.
• A physical ailment, such as vision problems, chronic pain or another disability, inferred from indirect references in his correspondence.

The diverse range of possibilities reflects both Paul’s complex experiences and the metaphor’s adaptability to differing theological frameworks.

The Thorn in Christian Thought and Tradition

Within Christian teaching, the phrase has become emblematic of the broader theme of human limitation and divine strength. Paul’s message emphasises that weakness can become the context for experiencing God’s grace, a principle that has shaped Christian spiritual writing for centuries. Commentators have often used the thorn to illustrate the transformative potential of adversity and the belief that trials may serve a divine purpose.
Spiritual and pastoral literature frequently references the thorn when discussing patience, humility and perseverance. It has also been invoked in debates on suffering, asceticism and the interpretation of divine providence in personal hardship. The ambiguity of Paul’s original reference allows the metaphor to serve widely across liturgical, doctrinal and devotional contexts.

Modern Usage and Cultural Influence

Beyond its scriptural roots, “thorn in the flesh” has entered general English as an idiomatic expression denoting any ongoing source of irritation, frustration or obstruction. It is synonymous with “thorn in the side”, a phrase derived from Numbers 33:55, which similarly describes adversaries as continual troubles for the people of Israel.
The expression appears in literary, political and everyday contexts. Dictionaries often cite its figurative usage to illustrate English idioms rooted in biblical language. For instance, E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India features the line, “I can be a thorn in Mr Turton’s flesh,” demonstrating its application to interpersonal tension. Such examples show how biblical metaphors have become woven into the broader fabric of English literature and speech.
Today the phrase remains a concise and vivid way to characterise lingering problems, whether minor nuisances or significant obstacles. Its endurance reflects the power of biblical imagery to convey complex emotional and social realities with clarity and force.