Topical Encyclopedia
Darnel, also known as "tares," is a plant mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. It is a type of weed that closely resembles wheat until the plants mature, making it difficult to distinguish between the two in the early stages of growth. The Greek word for darnel is "zizanion," and it is primarily referenced in the Parable of the Weeds, found in the Gospel of Matthew.
Biblical Reference:The primary biblical reference to darnel is found in
Matthew 13:24-30, where Jesus presents the Parable of the Weeds:
"Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared." (
Matthew 13:24-26)
In this parable, the "weeds" are identified as darnel, which an enemy sows among the wheat. The servants of the landowner ask if they should pull up the weeds, but the landowner advises against it, saying:
"‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (
Matthew 13:29-30)
Symbolism and Interpretation:In the parable, the darnel represents the presence of evil or false believers within the kingdom of God. The enemy who sows the darnel is often interpreted as Satan, who seeks to disrupt the work of God by introducing falsehood and deception. The wheat symbolizes true believers, and the field represents the world or the church.
The parable emphasizes the coexistence of good and evil until the end of the age, when a final separation will occur. This separation is depicted as the harvest, where the wheat is gathered into the barn, symbolizing the gathering of the righteous into God's kingdom, while the darnel is burned, representing the judgment and destruction of the wicked.
Agricultural Context:Darnel (Lolium temulentum) is a species of ryegrass that is toxic to humans and animals if consumed in large quantities. In ancient agriculture, its similarity to wheat made it a significant problem, as it could easily contaminate a crop. The difficulty in distinguishing darnel from wheat until maturity underscores the parable's message about the challenge of discerning true believers from false ones.
Theological Implications:The Parable of the Weeds serves as a reminder of the patience and discernment required in the Christian life. It teaches that ultimate judgment belongs to God, who will separate the righteous from the wicked at the appointed time. This parable encourages believers to focus on their growth and faithfulness, trusting in God's justice and timing.
The presence of darnel among the wheat also highlights the reality of spiritual warfare and the ongoing battle between good and evil. It calls Christians to be vigilant and discerning, aware of the enemy's tactics, while maintaining hope in the promise of God's final victory and the establishment of His kingdom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety L. Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay.
Greek
2215. zizanion -- zizanium (a kind ofdarnel resembling wheat)... zizanium (a kind of
darnel resembling wheat). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: zizanion Phonetic Spelling: (dziz-an'-ee-on) Short Definition
...Library
The First Great Group of Parables.
... seed in his field: 25 but while men slept [while they innocently rested, not while
they were negligent], his enemy came and sowed tares [darnel, which closely...
The Prodigal Son.
... In the malicious sowing of thedarnel, the zealous proposal of the servants, and
the cautious decision of the master, you have threads of human motive and...
The Tares.
... of the grain begin to appear, some of the farmer's servants, looking narrowly into
the quality of the crop, discovered that a large proportion of it wasdarnel...
On Development in Religious Knowledge. ...
... God forbid that in that spiritual paradise from plants of cinnamon and balsam,
darnel and wolfsbane should of a sudden shoot forth....
Letter xv. To Pope Damasus.
... when it receives the pure seed of the Lord, bears fruit an hundredfold; but here
the seed corn is choked in the furrows and nothing grows butdarnel or oats....
Comparison of a Soul and a Millstone.
... driven round by the action of the water: but it is in the power of the man who directs
it, to decide whether he will have wheat or barley ordarnel ground by it...
Later English Reformers.
... word.... O that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good
doctrine, as Satan is to sow cockle anddarnel!"(366)....
Later English Reformers
... O that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn of good doctrine, as Satan
is to sow cockle anddarnel!""Ibid., "Sermon of the Plough."....
A Sermon of the Reverend Father Master Hugh Latimer, Preached in...
... into English. Oh that our prelates would be as diligent to sow the corn
of good doctrine, as Satan is to sow cockle anddarnel! And...
Letter vi. In My Last Two Letters I have Given the State of the...
... "and furrow-weeds,Darnel and many an idle flower that grew Mid the sustaining corn;".
yet sheaves of the same harvest, the sheaves of brethren!...
Thesaurus
Darnel (9 Occurrences)... (n.) Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded
darnel),
the grains of which have been reputed poisonous.
...Darnel (9 Occurrences).
...Weeds (14 Occurrences)
... Weeds (14 Occurrences). Matthew 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and
soweddarnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. (WEB RSV NIV)....
Wheat (56 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEY). Matthew 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed
darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. (WEB...
Tares (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The beardeddarnel, mentioned only in Matthew
13:25-30. It is the Lolium temulentum, a species of rye-grass...
Field (390 Occurrences)
... sow good seed in your field? Where did thisdarnel come from?' (WEB KJV ASV
BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 13:31 He set another...
Seed (337 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:25 but during the night his enemy comes, and over the first seed
he sowsdarnel among the wheat, and goes away. (WEY BBE)....
Burned (587 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:30 suffer both to grow together till the harvest, and in the time of
the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first thedarnel, and bind it...
Cockle (1 Occurrence)
... Or it may be regarded as simply any noisome weed, such as the "tares" or
darnel of Matthew 13:30.... 9. (n.) The Lotium, ordarnel. Int....
Sown (45 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:27 And the bondmen of the householder came up and said to him, Sir, hast
thou not sown good seed in thy field? whence then has itdarnel? (DBY)....
Sowed (20 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and soweddarnel weeds also
among the wheat, and went away.... Where then does thedarnel come from?' (WEY)....
Resources
What is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the commands against mixing different things in Deuteronomy 22:9 11? | GotQuestions.orgDarnel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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