-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I'm not aware of anything biblical, or historical, that connects Jesus to opium.
The modern plant we call "lily of the valley" has nothing to do with opium, but probably is also not the plant described in scripture.
Regarding the plant in scripture called "lily of the valley"... I haven't seen any evidence that any historians actually have any idea WHAT it was.
So... if you think the lily of valley is referring to opium... then please give some historical evidence.
I'm not just trying to be contradictory, I'm just stating that we need to back up statements with evidence.
If you have evidence that the plant mentioned here is opium, then share that evidence.
If you have real historical evidence, then great.
If you don't have evidence, then it's just conjecture.
The modern plant we call "lily of the valley" has nothing to do with opium, but probably is also not the plant described in scripture.
Regarding the plant in scripture called "lily of the valley"... I haven't seen any evidence that any historians actually have any idea WHAT it was.
So... if you think the lily of valley is referring to opium... then please give some historical evidence.
I'm not just trying to be contradictory, I'm just stating that we need to back up statements with evidence.
If you have evidence that the plant mentioned here is opium, then share that evidence.
If you have real historical evidence, then great.
If you don't have evidence, then it's just conjecture.
Last edited:
And he says they called this thing "opium".
And then he connected jesus to this thing called opium,
because Jesus is called the "lily of the valley",
and this thing is also a "lily".
By juxtaposition, and context... he is absolutely connecting jesus either to "opium", or to something people "referred to as opium".
If he was NOT trying to connect Jesus either to "opium" or something "referred to as opium"... ummm... he wouldn't have mentioned opium.
MY POINT was merely to point out he needed to give some evidence for this.
I didn't call him a bad guy, I just asked for some historical evidence.
That's all.
Sometimes lovely things get passed around in christian circles and those things aren't true.
Sometimes un-lovely things get passed around, and those things aren't true.
Lots of things, good and bad, aren't true.
I was just asking for some evidence... because the bible says to prove (test) all things.
If it's all true... great. Show me some evidence and I'll pass it around also.
And then he connected jesus to this thing called opium,
because Jesus is called the "lily of the valley",
and this thing is also a "lily".
By juxtaposition, and context... he is absolutely connecting jesus either to "opium", or to something people "referred to as opium".
If he was NOT trying to connect Jesus either to "opium" or something "referred to as opium"... ummm... he wouldn't have mentioned opium.
MY POINT was merely to point out he needed to give some evidence for this.
I didn't call him a bad guy, I just asked for some historical evidence.
That's all.
Sometimes lovely things get passed around in christian circles and those things aren't true.
Sometimes un-lovely things get passed around, and those things aren't true.
Lots of things, good and bad, aren't true.
I was just asking for some evidence... because the bible says to prove (test) all things.
If it's all true... great. Show me some evidence and I'll pass it around also.
Last edited:
The plant which we call 'Lily of the Valley' is Convallaria which is totally toxic but pretty.
The plant associated with Opium is the poppy especially 2 Asian species.
The plant called Lily of the Valley in Biblical times was Cistus salvifolius. While NOT a source of Opium, it is a source of laudinum which has strong topical analgesic properties as well as being the medical anesthetic of choice before the discovery of chloroform.
The plant associated with Opium is the poppy especially 2 Asian species.
The plant called Lily of the Valley in Biblical times was Cistus salvifolius. While NOT a source of Opium, it is a source of laudinum which has strong topical analgesic properties as well as being the medical anesthetic of choice before the discovery of chloroform.
A
The lily of the valley (e.g. Convallaria majalis) is a highly poisonous woodland flowering plant. All parts of the plant—the stems, the leaves, the flowers and the berries—are extremely poisonous.
Again, ALL parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children. If ingested—even in small amounts—the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced heart rate. More means sudden alterations in cardiac rhythm and death depending on how much is ingested.
The name "lily of the valley" is used in some English translations of the Bible in Song of Songs 2:1, but the Hebrew phrase "shoshannat-ha-amaqim" in the original text (literally "lily of the valleys") does not refer to this plant.
The OP's assertions are completely false. Ancient Hebrews did not eat this plant nor make any medicines from it. Moderators may wish to lock this thread so some naive person doesn't come along and read the original post and then kill themselves eating a highly poisonous plant.
Again, ALL parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children. If ingested—even in small amounts—the plant can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and a reduced heart rate. More means sudden alterations in cardiac rhythm and death depending on how much is ingested.
The name "lily of the valley" is used in some English translations of the Bible in Song of Songs 2:1, but the Hebrew phrase "shoshannat-ha-amaqim" in the original text (literally "lily of the valleys") does not refer to this plant.
The OP's assertions are completely false. Ancient Hebrews did not eat this plant nor make any medicines from it. Moderators may wish to lock this thread so some naive person doesn't come along and read the original post and then kill themselves eating a highly poisonous plant.
A
"The most frequently mentioned specific flowers are traditionally translated "lily" and "rose" (Heb šušan and ḥaḇaṣeleṯ respectively). Students of Palestinian botany tell us that neither of these is probably the correct translation, however. The lily familiar to most readers, the white or "Easter" lily (Lilium candidum), grows in remote regions of Israel but does not fit the description attributed to it in the biblical text as growing in valleys, among brambles or in pasture land. The common rose is not native to this region either.
Many commentators now assume, for example, that the phrase "lilies of the field" means any of the showy, attractive flowers that burst forth in glorious profusion in the springtime on the plains, pastures and hills of the Carmel and Sharon regions, which are proverbial for their fertility and beauty. These flowers include ranunculus, anemone, cyclamen, tulip, hyacinth, narcissus, crocus, iris and orchid. Any reference to lilies or roses in the following discussion could therefore just as easily be substituted with one of these species or could be understood to be making a generic reference to flowers."
Source: Ryken, L., Wilhoit, J., Longman, T., Duriez, C., Penney, D., & Reid, D. G. (2000). Dictionary of biblical imagery (electronic ed.) (294). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"As with the ‘rose’ of the Bible there has been considerable speculation as to the botanical identity of the ‘lily’. In common usage the word may be applied to several decorative plants. Most of the references in Ct. are thought to be to the hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), a bulbous plant with blue flowers, although the lily-like lips of Ct. 5:13 may allude to the scarlet tulip (Tulipa sharonensis) or red poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria), myrrh resin also mentioned, being red. Although the white madonna lily (Lilium candidum) is wild in Palestine, it inhabits rocky places and it is unlikely to be the plant referred to in Ct. 6:2–3, as has been suggested. The ‘lily’ of Ho. 14:5 is by implication of a moist habitat likely to be the yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus), the ‘fleur de lis’ of the French.
The references to ‘lily-work’ on the columns of Solomon’s Temple in 1 Ki. 7:19, 22, 26 and 2 Ch. 4:5 are probably to carved representations of the water-lily. The Egyptian lotus (the blue flowered Nymphaea caerulea and white N. lotus) exercised a wide influence over ancient Near Eastern art, as evidenced by the presence of the lotus motif in many Egyptian and Palestinian archaeological objets d’art.
The ‘lilies of the field’ (Mt. 6:28; Lk. 12:27) could refer to any of the spectacular and beautiful flowers of the Palestinian countryside. Many have been suggested, including the poppy anemone Anemone coronaria and the white daisy Anthemis palaestina or the crown marguerite Chrysanthemum coronarium."
Source: Hepper, F. N. (1996). Plants. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman, Ed.) (3rd ed.) (935). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Etc...
Many commentators now assume, for example, that the phrase "lilies of the field" means any of the showy, attractive flowers that burst forth in glorious profusion in the springtime on the plains, pastures and hills of the Carmel and Sharon regions, which are proverbial for their fertility and beauty. These flowers include ranunculus, anemone, cyclamen, tulip, hyacinth, narcissus, crocus, iris and orchid. Any reference to lilies or roses in the following discussion could therefore just as easily be substituted with one of these species or could be understood to be making a generic reference to flowers."
Source: Ryken, L., Wilhoit, J., Longman, T., Duriez, C., Penney, D., & Reid, D. G. (2000). Dictionary of biblical imagery (electronic ed.) (294). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
"As with the ‘rose’ of the Bible there has been considerable speculation as to the botanical identity of the ‘lily’. In common usage the word may be applied to several decorative plants. Most of the references in Ct. are thought to be to the hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), a bulbous plant with blue flowers, although the lily-like lips of Ct. 5:13 may allude to the scarlet tulip (Tulipa sharonensis) or red poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria), myrrh resin also mentioned, being red. Although the white madonna lily (Lilium candidum) is wild in Palestine, it inhabits rocky places and it is unlikely to be the plant referred to in Ct. 6:2–3, as has been suggested. The ‘lily’ of Ho. 14:5 is by implication of a moist habitat likely to be the yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus), the ‘fleur de lis’ of the French.
The references to ‘lily-work’ on the columns of Solomon’s Temple in 1 Ki. 7:19, 22, 26 and 2 Ch. 4:5 are probably to carved representations of the water-lily. The Egyptian lotus (the blue flowered Nymphaea caerulea and white N. lotus) exercised a wide influence over ancient Near Eastern art, as evidenced by the presence of the lotus motif in many Egyptian and Palestinian archaeological objets d’art.
The ‘lilies of the field’ (Mt. 6:28; Lk. 12:27) could refer to any of the spectacular and beautiful flowers of the Palestinian countryside. Many have been suggested, including the poppy anemone Anemone coronaria and the white daisy Anthemis palaestina or the crown marguerite Chrysanthemum coronarium."
Source: Hepper, F. N. (1996). Plants. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman, Ed.) (3rd ed.) (935). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Etc...
Opium medicine?, wow. Jesus Himself is my medicine, i don't really know why but i have for a very long time wanted to shake the hand of the Christ, i just want to give him a big man hug and say to him thankyou for all that you have done, will do and to continue to do, sometimes i think about laying on the rock (God) and listen to His heart beat and just to be in the presence of an awesome infinite supreme intelligent loving creator. Sometimes i just don't feel that i am worthy enough to even think about God, Jesus and their sublime omnipotence, but that is the weakness sometimes i bare. Still, thankyou for this and that picture painted an infinite image of superflous wonder in my mind.
