Etymological-Philological and Botanical Analysis of the Noun שושנה in the Old Testament

ABSTRACT This study examines the noun שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (šōšannāh) in the Old Testament from etymological, philological, comparative Semitic, translational, and botanical perspectives. Although the term is traditionally rendered as “lily,” the analysis demonstrates that such identification is not based on definitive botanical evidence, but rather on a long and stable translation tradition beginning with the Septuagint and Vulgate. The study distinguishes between the etymology of the lexeme and the identification of its botanical referent, showing that these two questions must not be methodologically conflated. Comparative evidence, especially Akkadian šūšannu, indicates an ancient Semitic lexical background with the broad meaning “flower” or “ornamental plant.” The Old Testament usage of שׁוֹשַׁנָּה further confirms its semantic flexibility: in the Song of Songs it functions as a poetic symbol of beauty, in the Psalms as a liturgical or musical term, and in Temple descriptions as an ornamental motif. The botanical hypotheses identifying the term with Lilium candidum, lotus or water lily, or a generic flowering plant are critically evaluated. The study concludes that שׁוֹשַׁנָּה most probably denotes an aesthetically valued flowering plant, without requiring precise identification with a single botanical species. KEYWORDS Biblical Hebrew; שׁוֹשַׁנָּה; šōšannāh; Old Testament; etymology; philology; comparative Semitic linguistics; biblical botany; lily; lotus; Song of Songs; Temple symbolism; translation tradition.