H3750 H3750
Saffron; the aromatic spice from the crocus sativus flower
This noun appears only in Song of Songs 4:14, in a catalogue of fragrant spices and aromatic plants. Saffron (crocus sativus) was prized in the ancient world for its color, fragrance, and flavoring properties. The word is a loan from Greek κρόκος, reflecting the spice trade networks that brought this luxury item to the Levant. Its inclusion among precious aromatics in the Song emphasizes the beloved's worth and desirability.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The saffron spice or the crocus plant from which it derives, valued for fragrance and color. In the Song's garden imagery, saffron appears alongside nard, henna, and calamus, creating a sensory portrait of exotic beauty. Spanish 'azafrán' and French 'safran' preserve the ancient trade-name across languages. The multilingual consistency reflects saffron's status as a universally recognized luxury spice, making it an apt metaphor for precious beauty. 1×
AR["وِ-كَرْكُوم"]·ben["এবং-জাফরান"]·DE["[וכרכם]"]·EN["and-saffron"]·FR["et-safran,"]·heb["ו-כרכום"]·HI["और-केसर"]·ID["dan-kunyit"]·IT["e-e-saffron"]·jav["lan-safron"]·KO["그리고-사프란"]·PT["e-açafrão"]·RU["и-шафран"]·ES["y-azafrán"]·SW["na-zafarani"]·TR["ve-safran"]·urd["اور-زعفران"]
Related Senses
H8081 1. oil (substance) (180×)H3196 1. wine (fermented grape juice) (141×)H1706 1. honey (54×)H4682 1. unleavened bread/cakes (53×)H2461 1. milk (42×)H8492 1. new wine / must (38×)H0400 1. food, nourishment (36×)G3631 1. wine (34×)H3978 1. food, nourishment (30×)H1314 1. spice / perfume / balsam (29×)H7416 1. pomegranate (fruit/ornament) (28×)H3323 1. fresh oil, olive oil (23×)H2964 1. prey, torn flesh (19×)H3899 2. food, sustenance (19×)G1033 1. food (17×)G5160 1. food (16×)H5561 1. spices, aromatic substances (16×)H0402 1. food, nourishment (14×)G2219 1. leaven (13×)H4478a 1. manna (13×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כַּרְכֹּם n.[m.] saffron (crocus sativus) (NH id.; and vb. denom. כִּרְכֵּם; Hithp. grow yellow, pale; Aramaic כּוּרְכְּמָא, ܟܽܘܪܟܡܳܐ; Arabic كُرْكُمٌ = κρόκος, crocus; Lag Ges Abh. 58, No. 147; so also JHMordt Sab.Denkm 83 f.; otherwise DHM ib., who comp. Sab. כמכם, Arabic كَمْكَامٌ = Gk. κάγκαμον);—Ct 4:14; on meaning v. especially LöwNo. 162.