A flower, such as the hyacinth or tulip, that grows from a bulb. Similar groups include the iris, crocus, and narcissus. The “lily of the valleys” of (Song 2:1-2) is not our common lily of the valley, but most likely the sweet-smelling blue hyacinth common in fields and rocky places. The lilies gathered in the gardens (Song 6:2) may be true lilies, such as the distinctive white Madonna lily and the scarlet Martagon lily, both of which are native to Palestine. The lilies that form the decorative floral motif of Solomon’s Temple (1Kgs 7:19; 1Kgs 7:26) are probably water lilies or the lotus. The reference to “lilies of the field” in (Matt 6:28-30) and (Luke 12:27-28) probably refers to the common crown anemone or windflower. This poppylike flower, which is not a true lily, blooms brightly and profusely in the spring throughout the hilly country of Bible lands.
