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שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת

𐤔𐤅𐤔𐤍 𐤏𐤃𐤅𐤕

Shûwshan ʻÊdûwth

H7802 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שושן, עדה to shine, to be bright, to bear witness, to testify

Definition

A technical phrase appearing in Psalm superscriptions, likely denoting a musical or liturgical term associated with performance instructions. 'Shushan Eduth' is composed of two elements: 'shushan' (lily) and 'eduth' (testimony, witness), thereby meaning 'lily of testimony' or 'lilies, a testimony.' The exact referent is uncertain—possibilities include the tune or mode to which the psalm was to be sung, the type of musical instrument (such as a trumpet shaped like a lily), or a collection/category of hymns. In no instance does it directly refer to a geographical or personal name in context.

Semantic Range

lily (flower); tune or melody name; musical mode or style; song title or heading; liturgical testimony

Root / Etymology

Compound term from שׁוּשַׁן (shushan, 'lily') and עֵדוּת (eduth, 'testimony, witness'). The root for שׁוּשַׁן is ש-ו-ש (-ו-, 'to be bright/white; to shine'), referencing the lily flower, though the root is debated and partly uncertain. עֵדוּת is from ע-ו-ד ('to bear witness, to testify'), denoting something serving as a witness or testimony. The phrase is formed as a musical or liturgical notation, not as a grammatical compound used in narrative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'Shushan Eduth' appears only in Psalm headings (notably Psalm 60 and 80)—never in narrative text. Such headings indicate instructions to musicians regarding melody, style, instrumental accompaniment, or liturgical category. 'Shoshannim-Eduth,' the plural variant, similarly means 'lilies, a testimony.' The term likely refers to a known tune, melody, or instrumental prelude recognized in Israelite temple choreography and performance, akin to Western musical instructions like 'to the tune of...' or 'according to...' Later translations sometimes associate 'shushan' with trumpets or similar-shaped instruments, but the consensus is that the term refers either to the melody's name or its musical quality, not an actual instrument. English translations such as 'lily of the testimony' or transliterations ('Shushan Eduth') do not capture the technical nuance or purpose in liturgical settings. The phrase is not used to designate individuals or locations, and its meaning remained technical and context-specific in the Psalms despite varied translation traditions. No evidence ties the phrase to the religious or ethnic terminology developed in later Judean or Jewish contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (plural of former) שׁוֹשַׁנִּים עֵדוּתlemma שׁוֹשַׁנִּיס עֵדוּת samekh, corrected to שׁוֹשַׁנִּים עֵדוּת; from שׁוּשַׁן and עֵדוּת; lily (or trumpet) of assemblage; Shushan-Eduth or Shoshannim-Eduth, the title of a popular song; Shoshannim-Eduth, Shushan-eduth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עוד (ʿ-w-d) — bearing witness, testifying, attesting, giving evidence

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3034 יָדָה still him
H5704 עַד while still
H5707 עֵד witness
H5709 עֲדָא appointed assembly of
H5712 עֵדָה appointed assembly of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7802-01 עֵד֑וּת edut HNcfsa A Testimony testimony-of 2
H7802-02 שֹׁשַׁנִּ֑ים shoshanim HNcmpa Lilies lilies of testimony 1
H7802-03 שׁוּשַׁ֣ן shushan HNcmsc Shushan lily of testimony 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7802-03 Psalms 60:1 שׁוּשַׁ֣ן shushan HNcmsc Shushan lily of testimony
H7802-01 Psalms 60:1 עֵד֑וּת edut HNcfsa Eduth testimony-of
H7802-02 Psalms 80:1 שֹׁשַׁנִּ֑ים shoshanim HNcmpa Lilies lilies of testimony
H7802-01 Psalms 80:1 עֵד֖וּת edut HNcfsa A Testimony testimony-of
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