Bible Dictionaries
Lotus
Holman Bible Dictionary
The lotus which serves as the habitat for behemoth (Job 40:21-22 ) is a thorny shrub (Zizyphus lotus ) which flourishes in hot, damp areas of North Africa and Syria. The plant is especially abundant around the Sea of Galilee. This plant should be distinguished from the Egyptian lotus (Nymphae lotus ) which is a water lily. The translation thorn bushes (TEV) or thorny lotus (REB) is preferable to the simple lotus (NAS, NIV, NRSV) which leaves the reader wondering what plant is in view.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Lotus'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/l/lotus.html. 1991.