saffron Summary and Overview

Heb. karkom, Arab. zafran (i.e., "yellow"), mentioned only in Cant. 4:13, 14; the Crocus sativus. Many species of the crocus are found in Israel. The pistils and stigmata, from the centre of its flowers, are pressed into "saffron cakes," common in the East. "We found," says Tristram, "saffron a very useful condiment in travelling cookery, a very small pinch of it giving not only a rich yellow colour but an agreable flavour to a dish of rice or to an insipid stew."

(yellow). #So 4:14| Saffron has front the earliest times been in high esteem as a perfume. "It was used," says Rosenmuller, "for the same purposes as the modern pot-pourri." The word saffron is derived from the Arabic zafran, "yellow." (The saffron (Crocus sativus) is a kind of crocus of the iris family. It is used its a medicine, as a flavoring and as a yellow dye. Homer, Virgil and Milton refer to its beauty in the landscape. It abounds in Israel name saffron is usually applied only to the stigmas and part of the style, which are plucked out and dried. --ED.)

SAF'FRON . Song 4:14. Undoubtedly this is the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), which, with other species of this plant, abounds in Palestine. This kind is in high repute as a perfume; hence its mention among spices. The pistils of its blossoms, gathered, dried, and pressed into cakes or ground, became the saffron of commerce, which is used as an orange dye and is also employed in medicine in the East. This substance is also valued for adding flavor and aroma to food and drink.

Of the Iris order. The stigma and upper portion of the style, taken from the flower's center and dried, is the saffron of commerce. Esteemed anciently for its fragrance, also as a dye. "Saffron vested" is Homer's epithet for morning. Also a medicine. Hebrew carcom, Latin crocus (Song of Solomon 4:14). Saffron is derived from Arabic zafran, "yellow." Saffron Walden in Essex is named from the saffron.