ETYMOLOGICAL-PHILOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NOUN שׁוֹשַׁנָּה IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

ETYMOLOGICAL-PHILOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NOUN שׁוֹשַׁנָּה IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Željko Stanojević
Independent Researcher in Hebrew Linguistics and Biblical Philology
Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Belgrade
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0717-6184

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Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive philological, etymological, comparative Semitic, and botanical analysis of the noun שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (šōšannāh) in the Old Testament. Although traditionally translated as “lily,” the research demonstrates that the semantic history of the lexeme is considerably more complex than later translation traditions suggest. By integrating evidence from Biblical Hebrew, Akkadian, Aramaic, Syriac, historical lexicography, biblical poetry, temple symbolism, and historical botany, the paper critically re-evaluates the dominant interpretative models surrounding the term.

Particular attention is devoted to the distinction between etymology and botanical reference, two analytical levels that are frequently conflated in earlier scholarship. Comparative Semitic evidence, especially the Akkadian form šūšannu, suggests the preservation of an ancient Semitic lexical layer associated broadly with flowering or ornamental plants rather than a narrowly defined botanical species. The study further demonstrates that the usage of שׁוֹשַׁנָּה in the Song of Songs, Psalms, and Temple descriptions reflects semantic flexibility conditioned by poetic, liturgical, and ornamental functions.

The paper also investigates the decisive role of the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and later European and Balkan translation traditions in stabilizing the interpretation “lily,” despite the absence of definitive linguistic proof for such identification. Alternative theories associating the term with lotus symbolism or generalized floral imagery are evaluated within the framework of contemporary interdisciplinary scholarship (1990–2026).

The study concludes that שׁוֹשַׁנָּה should most cautiously be understood as a semantically open designation for an aesthetically valued flowering plant whose precise botanical identification remains uncertain. More broadly, the paper contributes to discussions concerning biblical phytonyms, Semitic lexicography, translation history, and the methodological limits of retrospective botanical reconstruction in ancient texts.

Available online: Academia.edu, Humanities Commons, and Zenodo DOI version:
https://www.academia.edu/166766212/ETYMOLOGICAL_PHILOLOGICAL_AND_BOTANICAL_ANALYSIS_OF_THE_NOUN_%D6%B8%D6%BC%D7%94_%D7%A0_%D7%81%D7%A9%D6%B9%D7%95%D7%81%D7%A9%D6%B7%D7%81_IN_THE_OLD_TESTAMENT
https://works.hcommons.org/records/90w9j-cyt60
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20060094

Description

This research re-examines one of the most debated floral terms in Biblical Hebrew: שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (šōšannāh). Traditionally rendered as “lily,” the term has occupied a central place in biblical poetry, liturgy, and symbolic language for centuries. However, modern philological and comparative Semitic analysis increasingly suggests that the conventional translation may reflect interpretative tradition more than definitive linguistic certainty.

The study systematically analyzes the noun through several interconnected methodological frameworks:

  • historical philology
  • comparative Semitic linguistics
  • biblical exegesis
  • translation history
  • historical botany
  • cultural symbolism of the ancient Near East

Special emphasis is placed on the semantic diversity of the lexeme across different biblical contexts. In the Song of Songs, שׁוֹשַׁנָּה functions primarily as a poetic and symbolic image of beauty and distinction. In the Psalms, related forms appear within liturgical superscriptions, possibly connected with musical or ritual terminology. In Temple descriptions, the lexeme is associated with architectural ornamentation and stylized floral motifs.

The paper also explores the influence of Akkadian parallels, especially šūšannu, alongside possible Egyptian cultural associations involving lotus symbolism. At the same time, the study critically evaluates the methodological risks of projecting modern botanical taxonomy onto ancient literary and religious texts.

Rather than reducing the lexeme to a single plant species, the research proposes a broader semantic model in which שׁוֹשַׁנָּה represents an aesthetically and symbolically significant flowering plant within ancient Hebrew culture.

Keywords

שׁוֹשַׁנָּה; šōšannāh; Biblical Hebrew; Hebrew philology; Semitic linguistics; Comparative Semitic studies; Biblical botany; Old Testament; Song of Songs; Temple symbolism; Hebrew poetry; Akkadian šūšannu; Translation tradition; Septuagint; Vulgate; Lily; Lotus; Water lily; Historical linguistics; Biblical lexicography; Ancient Near Eastern symbolism; Hebrew etymology; Archaeobotany; Philological analysis; Biblical symbolism; Ancient Israelite flora; Hebrew semantics; Literary symbolism; Religious language

Research Areas

Hebrew Linguistics; Biblical Philology; Semitic Studies; Historical Linguistics; Biblical Botany; Comparative Philology; Translation Studies; Ancient Near Eastern Studies; Biblical Exegesis

Citation

Stanojević, Ž. (2026) “ETYMOLOGICAL-PHILOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NOUN שׁוֹשַׁנָּה IN THE OLD TESTAMENT”. doi:10.5281/zenodo.20060094.

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Stanojević, Ž. Hebrejsko-srpski rečnik (Hebrew–Serbian Dictionary). Beograd: Rad; Alfa i Omega, 2001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19176976

Stanojević, Ž. Srpsko-hebrejski i hebrejsko-srpski rečnik. Beograd, 2012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19174396

Stanojević, Ž. Kumranski spisi: dokaz verodostojnosti Biblije. Beograd: Metafizika, 2009.
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Stanojević, Ž. Kumranski spisi: dokaz verodostojnosti Biblije — Tom 2: Tajna Isaijinog svitka. Beograd, 2012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19522797

Stanojević, Ž. O jeziku Srba i Jevreja: trojako prisustvo Jevreja među Slovenima – međusobni uticaji severozapadnih semitskih i slovenskih jezika. Beograd.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18227673

Stanojević, Ž. Sveto Pismo ili Biblija Starog i Novog zaveta: Novi Savremeni prevod. Belgrade: Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, 2010.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19178814

Additional Information

Language: English
Type: Research Article
Primary Fields: Biblical Hebrew; Philology; Semitic Linguistics; Biblical Botany
Core Concepts: שׁוֹשַׁנָּה; lily; lotus; Akkadian šūšannu; biblical phytonyms; translation history; Hebrew semantics; comparative philology; symbolic flora; Song of Songs; Temple ornamentation

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