The word “kasom” refers to saffron in Hebrew. Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). It has been used as a spice, dye, and medicine for thousands of years. Saffron has a distinctive color and flavor that makes it highly valuable. The Hebrew word “kasom” directly translates to “saffron” in English.
The Color of Saffron
Saffron has a vibrant, golden-yellow color. This distinctive hue comes from the saffron crocus’s red stigmas, which are the tiny strands inside the flower that produce the saffron spice. When harvested and dried, these delicate strands take on a luminous, deep orange-yellow color.
The exact shade can range from a darker rusty, burnt orange to a brighter sunflower yellow. However, the quintessential saffron color is a rich, golden yellow. This warm tone looks similar to other yellow spices like turmeric. But saffron’s color is uniquely vivid.
The hue has been described poetically in Hebrew texts as golden threads or yellow light. The intensity of saffron’s color comes from natural plant pigments called carotenoids. These antioxidants absorb certain wavelengths of light, resulting in saffron’s bold, yellow shade.
Significance of the Color Yellow in Judaism
The color yellow carries spiritual meaning in Judaism. It is associated with joy, warmth, optimism, and energy. Yellow often represents the glory and radiance of God in religious texts.
In the Torah, descriptions of God’s appearance include references to brilliant yellow light and fire. These indicate the splendor, power, and wisdom of the Divine. The hue yellow also decorates important ceremonial objects like the tallit prayer shawl and etrog citron fruit.
Yellow candle flames are used in Jewish rituals to symbolize the light of God. And yellow foods like saffron may be served at meals for holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Passover. The vibrant hue represents the sweetness and blessings of the festive seasons.
So the vibrant yellow of saffron mirrors the luminosity and joy found in Jewish traditions. The striking color reinforces saffron’s cultural significance as a sacred spice.
The Color of Kasom in Ancient Hebrew Texts
Several ancient Hebrew texts directly describe the vibrant yellow color of kasom, or saffron:
| Source | Quote |
| Song of Songs | “His cheeks are like a bed of kasom, towers of perfume.” This poetic verse compares the yellow hue of saffron to a flushed, healthy face. |
| Book of Esther | “And the garden had hangings of white and blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver upon a pavement of kasom, marble, mother-of-pearl, and mosaics.” Here, kasom’s yellow color is vivid enough to be used decoratively. |
| Talmud | “The colors found in kasom are combined to produce another color.” This description shows that even in ancient times, saffron was recognized to have a distinctive yellow shade. |
These quotes demonstrate that the ancient Hebrew language clearly defined kasom as the yellow spice saffron.
Modern Hebrew and Kasom
Modern Hebrew maintains the ancient word “kasom” (כָּסוֹם) for saffron. However, two other words are sometimes used as well:
| Modern Word | Meaning |
| Kasom (כָּסוֹם) | The traditional word for saffron, dating back to ancient texts |
| Za’afran (זַעֲפְרָן) | From the Arabic word for saffron, “za’faran” (زَعْفَران) |
| Karkom (קַרְקֹם) | A slightly more colloquial term, related to the word “karkum” (קַרְכֻּם) meaning carthamus or safflower |
However, kasom remains the formal Hebrew word used to refer specifically to the saffron spice and its signature golden yellow color. Saffron is not as widely used in modern Israeli cuisine compared to the Middle East and Asia. But the traditional word still maintains its clear association with the vivid yellow strands of Crocus sativus in Hebrew.
Use of Saffron Color in Modern Israel
Despite the high cost and limited cultivation of saffron in Israel, its distinctive yellow color is still meaningful in modern Israeli culture. The saffron yellow shade is displayed in several ways:
- The IAF-01 certification label for Israeli-grown saffron products features the iconic yellow color.
- Saffron-hued flowers like marigolds and chrysanthemums grow wild in Israeli fields, evoking the spice’s heritage.
- Orthodox Jewish feminists have reclaimed the vibrant yellow of saffron for their campaign colors.
- Israeli paintings and pottery frequently use the warm, sunny tones of saffron dyes.
- The vibrant gold of saffron etching dye brings traditional Yemenite Jewish ritual art to life.
- Restaurants occasionally use saffron’s vivid yellow in rice dishes to celebrate special occasions.
So despite its high cost, saffron yellow maintains cultural significance through heritage agriculture, religious art, and celebration of ancient traditions. The quintessential Hebrew “kasom” color thrives as a testament to the timeless golden glow of sacred saffron.
Etymology of the Word Kasom
The word “kasom” has ancient roots extending far beyond Hebrew texts. Here is a brief summary of its etymological origins:
| Language | Word | Meaning |
| Ancient Egyptian | Chesmen | Referring to Egyptian saffron |
| Middle Persian | Zarparan | Meaning “having golden feet” |
| Old Persian | Zarnafaran | Literally “gold-leaves” |
| Ancient Greek | Krokos | Linked to the saffron crocus flower |
| Sanskrit | Kunkumam | Referring to saffron’s use as a dye |
The ancient Semitic word most likely originates from the Akkadian “kasu” meaning gold. This reflects the concept of saffron’s vibrant yellow color linked to gold.
So the Hebrew transliteration “kasom” has remarkably ancient roots as a term referring to the reddish-golden color of precious saffron strands. The word’s antiquity mirrors saffron’s timeless heritage as the most treasured spice.
Saffron Dye and Fabrics in Ancient Israel
The highly-prized yellow color of saffron led to its use as a regal dye in ancient Israel. Though labor-intensive to harvest, saffron produced a luminous golden-orange dye unmatched by other natural dyes of the time. The precious dye was a status symbol only accessible to nobility and the upper class.
Saffron garments and fabrics were mentioned multiple times in the Torah as luxurious high-society decorations. The vivid yellow hue of dyed textiles was associated with wealth, divinity, and high prestige.
Specific references indicate saffron dye usage included:
- Saffron-colored curtains and tent partitions
- Bright yellow religious vestments for nobles
- Golden dye for royal garments and robes
- Vibrant yellow prayer shawls
- Saffron threads woven into tapestries
Of particular significance were the saffron-dyed vestments of the Kohanim, or priestly class. Their bright golden garments were described as almost radiant to represent the glory of God.
So in ancient Hebrew history, the rare and brilliant yellow color produced by saffron dyestuffs symbolized divine favor, wealth, and high social status.
Saffron’s Rarity and Expense
Why has saffron always been so expensive compared to other spices?
A few key reasons contribute to its extremely high cost:
- Labor-intensive harvesting – Each saffron flower yields just three delicate stigmas. These tiny strands must be carefully hand-picked and dried.
- Limited cultivation – Saffron only thrives in very specific soils and climates, restricting where it can be successfully grown.
- Low yields – Total world production of saffron is only 300 tonnes per year. Other spices are produced in vastly larger quantities.
- High demand – Saffron has been cherished for thousands of years, while supplies remain low.
Its limited availability and incredible labor required to harvest even minute quantities further increase saffron’s status as a rare, precious spice.
The equivalent of a football field sized plantation yields only around 11 pounds of saffron a year. That’s why just an ounce of saffron can cost around $500 or more!
So the signature yellow color of the delicate saffron threads results from an incredibly labor-intensive, low-yield process. This makes saffron far more expensive by weight than gold itself.
Saffron Trade in the Ancient Middle East
For millennia, saffron has been a highly lucrative trade item across the Middle East due to its utility, intense color, exotic aroma and extreme rarity. The difficult production and vibrant color made it extremely valuable.
Some key aspects of the ancient saffron trade were:
- Persia had extensive saffron cultivation and heavily traded the spice.
- Merchant caravans distributed saffron across the Near East, Egypt, Greece and Asia.
- The Phoenicians acted as major saffron traders around the Mediterranean.
- Saffron’s high value made it worth the transport across huge distances.
- Spice merchants fiercely protected their saffron monopoly.
- Adulteration with substitutes was common for profits.
- Saffron’s vivid color made it easy to identify for trade.
- Exclusive royal rights to saffron further limited public availability.
The limited supply and incredible demand for saffron made it a hugely profitable item for ancient traders. Caravans loaded with the precious yellow spice were heavily guarded. Access to saffron dye, textiles, medicines and flavorings became a marker of exclusivity and privilege.
So trade in the iconic golden threads of saffron had deep roots in the ancient Middle East as it spread across the world.
Growing Saffron in Ancient Israel
While saffron cultivation in Bronze Age Canaan is still debated, ancient Israelites likely had limited local production of the prized spice.
Clues from archeology and scripture suggest that saffron grew in the Levant during Biblical times:
- Distinctive saffron pollen has been found at excavation sites in the region.
- Ideal hot, dry climates support saffron crocus growth across the Middle East.
- Textual mentions of Lower Galilee as excellent saffron-growing land.
- frescoes show saffron gathering and processing.
- Minoan trade likely introduced saffron to Canaan.
- Ancient Persia had extensive saffron fields to supply regional trade.
While Mesopotamia and Egypt imported large quantities of saffron, Israelites also probably cultivated local crops to reduce reliance on expensive trade.
However, the intensive effort of farming saffron in Bronze Age Canaan was likely quite limited. Saffron never became a major part of the local agriculture or diet compared to grains and produce. But the coveted golden spice still held important ceremonial roles for ancient Israelites.
Conclusion
Across thousands of years, the Hebrew word “kasom” has maintained a consistent meaning of the signature golden yellow color belonging to precious saffron. This iconic spice originated in the ancient Middle East, where its brilliant color was treasured in texts, trade, traditions and dyeing. The rare spice’s hue symbolized light, joy, prestige and the sacred. Saffron’s vivid color comes from the delicate red stigmas within the Crocus sativus flower, which give the spice its intense aroma, flavor and dyeing power when harvested. While saffron cultivation was likely limited in Biblical Canaan, this exotic flower’s yellow strands still enriched ancient Israelite culture with a luminous shade treasured through millennia.