Biblical References:
Saffron is mentioned in the Bible in the context of the Song of Solomon, a poetic book that celebrates love and beauty. The specific reference is found in Song of Solomon 4:14 : "Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices."

Description and Uses:
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the "saffron crocus." The vivid crimson stigmas and styles, called threads, are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and coloring agent in food. Saffron is renowned for its rich golden-yellow hue and distinct aroma, which have made it a highly prized commodity throughout history.

In ancient times, saffron was not only valued for its culinary uses but also for its medicinal properties and as a dye. It was considered a luxury item, often associated with wealth and opulence due to the labor-intensive process required to harvest it. The spice's inclusion in the Song of Solomon highlights its status as a symbol of beauty and desirability.

Cultural and Historical Context:
In the ancient Near East, where the biblical narrative unfolds, saffron was cultivated and traded extensively. Its presence in the Song of Solomon suggests that it was well-known and appreciated in the region. The book's poetic imagery often draws on the natural world, using plants and spices to evoke the splendor and richness of love.

Saffron's mention alongside other valuable spices like nard, calamus, and cinnamon underscores its importance in the cultural and economic life of the time. These spices were often used in perfumes, incense, and anointing oils, playing a significant role in both daily life and religious practices.

Symbolism:
In the biblical context, saffron can be seen as a symbol of beauty, luxury, and the divine gift of creation. Its use in the Song of Solomon, a book that allegorically represents the love between God and His people, suggests a deeper spiritual significance. The spice's rarity and value may also reflect the preciousness of love and the divine relationship.

Theological Implications:
From a theological perspective, the mention of saffron in the Bible can be interpreted as a reminder of God's provision and the beauty of His creation. The luxurious and aromatic qualities of saffron serve as a metaphor for the richness of God's love and the blessings He bestows upon His people. The use of such imagery in Scripture invites believers to appreciate the natural world as a reflection of God's glory and to seek a deeper understanding of His love through the beauty He has created.Saffron

(yellow). (Solomon 4:14) Saffron has front the earliest times been in high esteem as a perfume. "It was used," says Rosenmuller, "for the same purposes as the modern pot-pourri." The word saffron is derived from the Arabic zafran , "yellow." (The saffron (Crocus sativus) is a kind of crocus of the iris family. It is used its a medicine, as a flavoring and as a yellow dye. Homer, Virgil and Milton refer to its beauty in the landscape. It abounds in Palestine name saffron is usually applied only to the stigmas and part of the style, which are plucked out and dried. --ED.)

Saffron

The common Crocus Sativus, a small bluish flower, whose yellow, thread-like stigmata yield an agreeable aromatic odor; and also the Indian saffron, So 4:14. In the East these were used in making a highly valued perfume, and also as a condiment and a stimulating medicine.

Hebrews karkom, Arab. zafran (i.e., "yellow"), mentioned only in Cant. 4:13, 14; the Crocus sativus. Many species of the crocus are found in Palestine. The pistils and stigmata, from the centre of its flowers, are pressed into "saffron cakes," common in the East. "We found," says Tristram, "saffron a very useful condiment in travelling cookery, a very small pinch of it giving not only a rich yellow colour but an agreable flavour to a dish of rice or to an insipid stew." 1. (n.) A bulbous iridaceous plant (Crocus sativus) having blue flowers with large yellow stigmas. See Crocus.

2. (n.) The aromatic, pungent, dried stigmas, usually with part of the stile, of the Crocus sativus. Saffron is used in cookery, and in coloring confectionery, liquors, varnishes, etc., and was formerly much used in medicine.

3. (n.) An orange or deep yellow color, like that of the stigmas of the Crocus sativus.

4. (a.) Having the color of the stigmas of saffron flowers; deep orange-yellow; as, a saffron face; a saffron streamer.

5. (v. t.) To give color and flavor to, as by means of saffron; to spice.

SAFFRON

saf'-run (karkom; krokos): Identical with the Arabic kurqum, the same as za`faran, "saffron." The source of the true saffron is Crocus sativus (Natural Order, Indaceae), a plant cultivated in Palestine; there are 8 wild varieties in all of which, as in the cultivated species, the orange-colored styles and stigmas yield the yellow dye, saffron. Songs 4:14 probably refers to the C. sativus. There is a kind of bastard saffron plant, the Carthamus tinctorius (Natural Order, Compositae), of which the orange-colored flowers yield a dye like saffron.

E. W. G. Masterman

3750. karkom -- saffron
... 3749, 3750. karkom. 3751 . saffron. Transliteration: karkom Phonetic
Spelling: (kar-kome') Short Definition: saffron. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3750.htm - 5k

2261. chabatstseleth -- meadow saffron or crocus
... chabatstseleth. 2262 . meadow saffron or crocus. Transliteration: chabatstseleth
Phonetic Spelling: (khab-ats-tseh'-leth) Short Definition: crocus. ...
/hebrew/2261.htm - 6k

The Saffron Tints Appear,
... MORNING The saffron tints appear,. 6,6,6,6 tr., John Brownlie. I. The saffron tints
appear,. The morning comes"'tis here. Wipe slumber from thine eyes,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the east/the saffron tints appear.htm

Spikenard and Saffron; Calamus and Cinnamon with all the Trees of ...
... CHAPTER IV. 14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with all the trees
of Lebanon; myrrh and aloes with all the chief ointments. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/14 spikenard and saffron calamus.htm

A Sermon of the Reverend Father Master Hugh Latimer, Preached in ...
... nay, as for him, I will never believe him while I live, nor never trust him; for
he likened our blessed lady to a saffron-bag:" where indeed I never used that ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon of the reverend.htm

Of Dyeing the Hair.
... Book II. Chapter VI."Of Dyeing the Hair. I see some (women) turn (the
colour of) their hair with saffron. They are ashamed even ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter vi of dyeing the hair.htm

Chapter iv.
... Cypress with spikenard.14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with all
trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes with all the chief spices.14. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/chapter iv.htm

On Clothes.
... variegated with gold, and those that are purple, and that piece of luxury which
has its name from beasts (figured on it), and that saffron-coloured ointment ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter xi name clothes.htm

The Phoenix
... When at its first rising the saffron morn grows red, when it puts to flight the
stars with its rosy light, thrice and four times she plunges her body into the ...
/.../lactantius/of the manner in which the persecutors died/the phoenix.htm

Of the Nature of Tithes.
... Predial small tithes are flax, hemp, madder, hops, garden roots, and herbs, as potatoes,
parsley, Cabbages, saffron; and the fruits of all kinds of trees, as ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/1 of the nature of.htm

Of Elaborate Dressing of the Hair in Other Ways, and Its Bearing ...
... I shall (then) see whether you will rise with (your) ceruse and rouge and saffron,
and in all that parade of headgear: [201] whether it will be women thus ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter vii of elaborate dressing of.htm

Index of First Lines
... up my soul! with gladness rise, 27 [11]The saffron tints appear, 29
[12]Now glows the morn in beauty rare, 31 EVENING" [13]When ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns from the east/index of first lines.htm

Saffron (1 Occurrence)
... The pistils and stigmata, from the centre of its flowers, are pressed into
"saffron cakes," common in the East. "We found," says ...
/s/saffron.htm - 8k

Yellow (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Being of a bright saffron like color; of the color of gold or brass;
having the hue of that part of the rainbow, or of the solar spectrum, which ...
/y/yellow.htm - 9k

Nard (5 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind
of incense tree; myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices, (Root in WEB KJV ...
/n/nard.htm - 8k

Cinnamon (4 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind
of incense tree; myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices, (WEB KJV JPS ASV ...
/c/cinnamon.htm - 10k

Cypresses (6 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 Cypresses with nard -- nard and saffron, Cane and cinnamon, With
all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices. (YLT). ...
/c/cypresses.htm - 8k

Calamus (5 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind
of incense tree; myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices, (WEB KJV JPS ASV ...
/c/calamus.htm - 9k

Cane (11 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 Cypresses with nard -- nard and saffron, Cane and cinnamon, With
all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices. (YLT). ...
/c/cane.htm - 11k

Crocus (1 Occurrence)
... corm. C. vernus is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers; C. sativus
produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn. 2 ...
/c/crocus.htm - 7k

Safron (1 Occurrence)

/s/safron.htm - 6k

Spikenard (4 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind
of incense tree; myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices, (WEB KJV JPS ASV ...
/s/spikenard.htm - 10k

What is the Rose of Sharon? | GotQuestions.org

Saffron: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus