Lexical Summary Shushan Eduth or Shoshannim Eduth: "Lily of Testimony" or "Lilies of Testimony" Original Word: שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shoshannim-Eduth, Shushan-eduth Or (plural of former) Showshanniym aeduwth {sho-shan-neem' ay-dooth'}; from shuwshan and eduwth; lily (or trumpet) of assemblage; Shushan-Eduth or Shoshannim-Eduth, the title of a popular song -- Shoshannim-Eduth, Shushan-eduth. see HEBREW shuwshan see HEBREW eduwth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shushan and eduth; perhaps "lily of testimony," a song title. Shushaq Definition see NH7895. Topical Lexicon 𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐓 𝐄𝐭𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 The phrase appears only in the superscriptions of Psalm 60 and Psalm 80. “Shushan” means “lily,” evoking beauty and purity; “Eduth” means “testimony” or “covenant witness.” Together they frame each psalm as a poetic “lily of testimony,” suggesting a musical piece or tune that carried covenantal overtones and an atmosphere of solemn loveliness. 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Psalm 60 is attributed to David “when he fought Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah” (superscription). David’s army had experienced setbacks before ultimate victory. The psalm opens, “O God, You have rejected us; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!” (Psalm 60:1). The title Shushan Eduth would have reminded the army that the Ark—called the “testimony”—was the visible sign of God’s covenant presence (Exodus 25:21-22). Psalm 80, attributed to Asaph, was likely composed in the northern kingdom’s distress before the fall of Samaria or during Judah’s later crises. It begins, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth” (Psalm 80:1). Placing the nation’s lament under the same Shushan Eduth heading links Israel’s history of deliverance under David with future hope for restoration. 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Superscriptional terms such as “To the tune of ‘The Lilies’” (Psalm 45, Psalm 69) show that named melodies guided temple musicians. Shushan Eduth probably designated a recognizable composition characterized by a gentle, flowing line—fitting for a “lily” tune—yet carrying the gravity of covenant testimony. In temple worship the Levitical choirs would match the words of lament and petition to this tune to reinforce the covenant theme: the people appeal to the God who bound Himself to them at Sinai and whose presence dwelt above the mercy seat. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 1. Covenant Assurance: By linking national crises to the “testimony,” the superscription calls worshipers to ground their pleas not in merit but in God’s sworn promises (Psalm 60:4; Psalm 80:3). 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Psalm 80 climaxes in the plea, “Let Your hand be upon the man at Your right hand, the son of man You have raised up for Yourself” (Psalm 80:17), foreshadowing the Messiah seated at God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Acts 7:56). By assigning this psalm to Shushan Eduth, the liturgy invited Israel to anticipate the ultimate “testimony” of God’s covenant faithfulness fulfilled in Christ, whose blood is called “the blood of the covenant” (Hebrews 10:29). 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 Forms and Transliterations עֵד֑וּת עֵד֖וּת עדות ‘ê·ḏūṯ ‘êḏūṯ eDutLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 60:1 HEB: עַל־ שׁוּשַׁ֣ן עֵד֑וּת מִכְתָּ֖ם לְדָוִ֣ד KJV: < INT: Musician and Shushaneduth Michtam of David Psalm 80:1 2 Occurrences |
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