### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chăbatstseleth**, represented by `{{H2261}}`, is defined as a **rose** or meadow-saffron, though its derivation is uncertain. It is a rare term, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Despite its infrequent use, it carries significant symbolic weight, representing beauty, transformation, and divine glory.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two appearances of `{{H2261}}` establish its core meanings. In Song of Solomon, it is used as a term of profound beauty, with the speaker declaring, "I am the **rose** of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" [[Song of Solomon 2:1]]. In Isaiah, it becomes a symbol of miraculous restoration, where the prophet foretells that "the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the **rose**" [[Isaiah 35:1]]. This connects the flower to the renewal of desolate and solitary places.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a deeper context for the environments and concepts associated with **chăbatstseleth**:
* `{{H8289}}` **Shârôwn** (plain, Sharon): This is the specific plain in Palestine directly associated with the beauty of the rose, as seen in "rose of **Sharon**" [[Song of Solomon 2:1]].
* `{{H7799}}` **shûwshan** (lily): This word for **lily** is paired directly with the rose, highlighting a shared theme of floral beauty in the valleys [[Song of Solomon 2:1]].
* `{{H6524}}` **pârach** (to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom): This verb describes the action of the rose in the desert, signifying flourishing and breaking forth into life [[Isaiah 35:1]].
* `{{H4057}}` **midbâr** (wilderness, desert): This word for **wilderness** or pasture is the setting for the rose's miraculous appearance, a place of desolation that is transformed [[Isaiah 35:1]].
* `{{H6010}}` **ʻêmeq** (a vale, i.e. broad depression): This word for **valleys** is the location associated with the lily that is mentioned alongside the rose of Sharon [[Song of Solomon 2:1]].
### Theological Significance
The theological importance of `{{H2261}}` is centered on the themes of renewal and divine glory.
* **Promise of Restoration:** The primary theological role of the word comes from its use in Isaiah. The image of a **rose** blossoming in the wilderness is a powerful metaphor for God's power to bring life and joy to barren and hopeless situations [[Isaiah 35:1]].
* **Symbol of Divine Glory:** The blossoming of the desert is directly linked to a revelation of God's majesty. The same passage continues, stating that they will see "the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God" [[Isaiah 35:2]]. The rose, therefore, symbolizes the visible manifestation of God's restorative power.
* **Metaphor for Beauty:** In Song of Solomon, the **rose** is used as a peak symbol of beauty and desirability, elevating it beyond a simple plant to a metaphor for a cherished person [[Song of Solomon 2:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2261}}` is a concise yet potent word in the Hebrew scriptures. Though used only twice, it powerfully conveys themes of beauty emerging from desolation and the promise of divine restoration. Whether as the beautiful **rose** of Sharon or the miraculous blossom in the desert, it serves as a symbol of hope and the transformative glory of God.
TRV