Girls · Hebrew · Old Testament · classic · Across biblical eras
Sharon
/SHAR-un/
שָׁרוֹן
"Fertile plain; level ground; a place of flowers"
Song of Solomon 2:1
RolePlace name — the fertile coastal plain of Israel
Etymology
From the Hebrew 'Sharon', referring to the coastal plain stretching along Israel's Mediterranean coast, famous for its flowers, fertility, and beauty. The Song of Solomon's 'rose of Sharon' made it a symbol of beauty itself.
Who they were
The Plain of Sharon runs along Israel's Mediterranean coast from Joppa to Mount Carmel — a flat, fertile stretch of land famous in the ancient world for its wildflowers, its pastures, and its beauty. Isaiah uses it as an image of restoration: 'The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon.' But the verse that made Sharon a personal name is Song of Solomon 2:1: 'I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.' Whether the speaker is the beloved describing herself or the lover describing her, the association is with natural, unselfconscious beauty — a wildflower, not a cultivated garden bloom. The name became hugely popular in the mid-twentieth century, particularly in English-speaking countries, and carries connotations of warmth, fertility, and the uncomplicated beauty of a flowering plain.
Character qualities
- Natural beauty
- Abundance
- Fertility and joy
Where they appear
Themes
Variants & related forms
Sharona · Shari
Read their story
Sharon's story begins in Song.
The full passage is at Song of Solomon 2:1. Any modern translation will do — the NLT and NIV are the most readable; the ESV and NKJV stay close to the wording the church has used for centuries.
Find a Bible to read it in →