Lily of the Valleys
Symbol of beauty, purity, and God's care.
Botanical Facts
scienceFlower
שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (Shoshannah)
Anemone coronaria
2 references
Clothed by the Father
The biblical "lily" often refers to the wild field flowers like the red Anemone. Jesus pointed to them to rebuke our anxiety about provision:
The lily "toils not." It doesn't stress or spin. Yet God clothes it in a beauty that surpasses Solomon. Jesus uses botany to dismantle our worry. If God lavishes such care on a flower that lasts a day, how much more will He care for His children?
Among Thorns
The Bridegroom describes his beloved: "Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters" (Song of Solomon 2:2). The believer is pictured as a soft, beautiful creation of grace standing during a harsh, fallen world, distinct and radiant.
Botanical Context
The 'Lily of the Valleys' is likely the red Anemone, a humble wildflower carpeting the fields.