the most important town of European Turkey, under the name of Saloniki,
with a mixed population of about 85,000.
- THEUDAS thanksgiving, referred to by Gamaliel in his speech before the
council at Jerusalem (Acts 5:36). He headed an insurrection against the
Roman authority. Beyond this nothing is known of him. - THICK CLAY (Habakkuk 2:6) is correctly rendered in the Revised
Version “pledges.” The Chaldean power is here represented as a rapacious
usurer, accumulating the wealth that belonged to others. - THIEVES, THE TWO (Luke 23:32, 39-43), robbers, rather brigands,
probably followers of Barabbas. Our Lord’s cross was placed between
those of the “malefactors,” to add to the ignominy of his position.
According to tradition, Demas or Dismas was the name of the penitent
thief hanging on the right, and Gestas of the impenitent on the left. - THISTLE (1.) Hebrews hoah (2 Kings 14:9; Job 31:40). In Job 41:2 the
Hebrew word is rendered “thorn,” but in the Revised Version “hook.” It is
also rendered “thorn” in 2 Chronicles 33:11; Proverbs 26:9; Cant. 2:2;
“brambles” in Isaiah 34:13. It is supposed to be a variety of the wild
plum-tree, but by some it is regarded as the common thistle, of which there
are many varieties in Palestine.
(2.) Hebrews dardar, meaning “a plant growing luxuriantly” (Genesis 3:18;
Hos. 10:8); Gr. tribolos, “a triple point” (Matthew 7:16; Hebrews 6:8,
“brier,” R.V. “thistle”). This was probably the star-thistle, called by
botanists Centaurea calcitropa, or “caltrops,” a weed common in
corn-fields. (See THORNS.)
- THOMAS twin, one of the twelve (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18, etc.). He
was also called Didymus (John 11:16; 20:24), which is the Greek
equivalent of the Hebrew name. All we know regarding him is recorded in
the fourth Gospel (John 11:15, 16; 14:4, 5; 20:24, 25, 26-29). From the
circumstance that in the lists of the apostles he is always mentioned along
with Matthew, who was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18), and that these
two are always followed by James, who was also the son of Alphaeus, it
has been supposed that these three, Matthew, Thomas, and James, were
brothers. - THORN (1.) Hebrews hedek (Proverbs 15:19), rendered “brier” in Micah
7:4. Some thorny plant, of the Solanum family, suitable for hedges. This is