LILY ( shûshan , 1 Kings 7:10; shôshannah , 2 Chronicles 4:5 , Song of Solomon 2:1 , Hosea 14:5 ). The Heb. word is probably a loan word from the Egyptian for the ‘lotus.’ In Arab [Note: Arabic.] , it is sûsan , which includes a great number of allied flowers lilies, irises, gladioli, etc. No doubt the Heb. word was equally comprehensive. Flowers of this group are very plentiful in Palestine, the irises being pre-eminent for their handsome appearance. The ‘ lily work ’ ( 1 Kings 7:19; 1 Kings 7:22; 1 Kings 7:26 ) is likely to have been modelled after the lotus ( NymphÅ“a lotus ) itself: lotus-like flowers appear on some Jewish coins. The Gr. krinon of Matthew 6:28 , Luke 12:27 probably had as wide a significance as shûshan , and included much more than actual lilies.
E. W. G. Masterman.