Reference: Shoshannim
Easton
Fausets
Shoshannim (plural.) Titles of Psalm 45; Psalm 69; Psalm 80. The "upon" expresses the object of the psalm. In Psalm 60 the singular SHUSHAN occurs. Shoshannim means "lilies," i.e. beautiful virgins. The beauty of the innocent, pure, lily like "virgins" (Ps 45:9,14) is spiritual; for the other psalms of the authors of Psalm 45, namely, "the sons of Korah," are all spiritual. In Psalm 80 SHOSHANNIM EDUTH is the "testimony" (Ps 78:5; 81:5) which points out the lovely ("lily like") salvation of the Lord. Hence, thrice is repeated "we shall be saved," Ps 80:3,6,19, and Ps 80:2, "save us." The lily is the enigmatic expression for loveliness. David delighted in enigmatic titles. SHUSHAN EDUTH (Psalm 60) is "the lily of testimony"; God's promise (Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33; Nu 24:17-19) of Canaan to Israel (Nu 24:6) is His lovely testimony, of which the assurance was already given in a partial deliverance (Nu 24:4-5).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Morish
Shoshan'nim
A word in the headings of Ps. 45, Ps. 69, and Ps. 80, with the word EDUTH, 'a testimony,' added. The first Hebrew word signifies 'lilies.' Gesenius refers it to the form of the instruments as resembling lilies. F?rst, as the name of one of the musical choirs. The LXX has 'for alternate strains.' In the heading of Ps. 60 is a similar word: SHUSHAN-EDUTH, 'the lily of testimony.'
Smith
Shoshan'nim
(lilies). "To the chief musician upon Shoshannim" is a musical direction to the leader of the temple choir which occurs in
and most probably indicates the melody "after" or "in the manner of" (Authorized Version upon") which the psalms were to be sung. Shoshannim-eduth occurs in the same way in the title of
... As the words now stand they signify "lilies, a testimony," and the two are separated by a large distinctive accent. In themselves they have no meaning in the present text, and must therefore be regarded as probably a fragment of the beginning of an older psalm with which the choir were familiar.