חֲבַצֶּלֶת (cha.vats.tse.let)
cha.vats.tse.let
crocus
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun cha.vats.tse.let refers to a flowering plant identified as the meadow-saffron or crocus. Although some older translations render it as "rose," the sources clarify that this likely describes the purple blooms of the autumn crocus rather than the rose bush familiar in Western gardens. The word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within poetic contexts that celebrate beauty and sensory delight.
In Song of Solomon 2:1, the speaker uses this image to describe personal attractiveness, comparing themselves to a flower among thorns. This usage highlights the plant’s delicate nature and vibrant color against a harsher background. Its rare appearance in Scripture underscores its role as a specific symbol of fragile beauty rather than a common agricultural staple.
The term also appears in Isaiah 35:1, which envisions a future restoration where the desert blooms abundantly. Here, the crocus represents a sudden, vivid transformation of barren land into a place of joy and life. The word captures a moment of natural splendor that signals hope and renewal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word חֲבַצֶּלֶת describes the crocus, a flower known for its delicate purple blooms that often appear in autumn. In Song of Solomon 2:1, the speaker uses this image to describe personal beauty, standing out like a gentle flower among thorns. This comparison reminds us that beauty can exist even in harsh or difficult surroundings. It is not about overwhelming strength, but about a quiet, fragile grace that catches the eye.
In Isaiah 35:1, the same plant symbolizes hope and renewal. The prophet envisions a desert blooming with life, transforming barren land into a place of joy. This image suggests that beauty and new beginnings can arise where none seemed possible. It is a reminder that God’s care often brings unexpected splendor to our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ a crocus1×
- [am] [the] crocus of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כַּ/חֲבַצָּֽלֶת\׃1×
- חֲבַצֶּ֣לֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 2:1
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
The speaker identifies as a crocus to highlight delicate beauty standing out against a backdrop of thorns.
-
Isaiah 35:1
The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
The desert blossoming like a crocus signals a sudden, vivid transformation from barrenness to joyful life.