שׁוּשַׁן (shu.shan)
shu.shan
Susa
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun shushan refers to Susa, the winter capital of the Persian Empire situated along the Ulai River. The Hebrew term literally translates to "lily," a name that likely reflects the city’s gardens or floral symbolism rather than its political function. As the seat of royal power during the exile period, it serves as the primary setting for key narratives in Esther and Daniel, where Jewish figures navigate life within the imperial court.
Its appearance across nineteen verses highlights its role as a backdrop for divine providence operating through foreign empires. In Nehemiah, the distance from Susa to Jerusalem underscores the vast separation between the exiles and their homeland. The word’s etymological link to a flower offers a quiet contrast to the city’s reputation for political intrigue and royal authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Susa was not just a geographic location; it was the heart of the Persian Empire’s winter court. For the biblical writers, this city represents the complex reality of living as God’s people in a foreign land. It was a place of political intrigue, royal power, and distant exile, yet also where divine providence worked through ordinary faithfulness.
When you read about Susa in Esther or Daniel, remember that these stories show how God remains present even when His people feel far from home. The distance between Jerusalem and Susa highlights the tension many believers face today: navigating a culture that does not share their values while trusting that God is sovereign over every empire and every decision.
This word reminds us that our faith is not confined to holy places or comfortable settings. Whether in a palace or a home, God sees His people and works through them to bring about justice and deliverance. It offers hope that no matter how far we are from our spiritual center, we are never outside of God’s care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ Susa11×
- Susa4×
- [were] in/ Susa2×
- [was] in/ Susa2×
- and/ in/ Susa1×
- [are] in/ Susa1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/שׁוּשַׁ֥ן4×
- בְּ/שׁוּשַׁ֣ן4×
- בְּ/שׁוּשָׁ֗ן3×
- שׁוּשָׁ֖ן1×
- שׁוּשָׁ֔ן1×
- שׁוּשַׁ֥ן1×
- שׁוּשַׁ֤ן1×
- וּ/בְ/שׁוּשַׁ֣ן1×
- בְּ/שׁוּשָׁ֤ן1×
- בְּ/שׁוּשָׁ֔ן1×
- בְּ/שׁוּשָׁ֑ן1×
- בְּ/שׁוּשַׁ֨ן1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 4:16
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
This verse captures the pivotal moment where Esther chooses to risk her life for her people, showing how faith leads to courageous action in the face of danger.
-
Daniel 8:2
I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
Here Susa serves as the setting for a prophetic vision, linking the city’s political power with God’s sovereign control over future empires.
-
Nehemiah 1:1
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
Nehemiah’s grief in Susa demonstrates how distance from Jerusalem intensified his deep concern for the spiritual and physical restoration of his people.
-
Esther 9:15
The Jews who were in Susa gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Susa; but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder.
The Jews gathering again in Susa to defend themselves highlights the ongoing struggle for survival and the community’s reliance on God’s protection.