Susanna is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Susanna was a follower of Jesus who supported His ministry, mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. She appears in a single verse, Luke 8:3, in a passage describing the women who traveled with Jesus and His disciples and provided for them out of their own means. The text names her alongside Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and “many others,” indicating that she was part of a larger group of women who shared this work of support.
The setting is significant. Luke presents these women immediately after describing Jesus’ ministry of preaching and healing throughout Galilee and the surrounding towns. Having been healed and delivered themselves, these women responded by giving of their substance—their money and possessions—to sustain Jesus and the twelve as they traveled and taught. Susanna is listed by name, which suggests she was known to the early church and remembered for her part in this ministry.
Scripture says nothing else about Susanna: not her hometown, her family, her background, or the circumstances that led her to follow Jesus. What is recorded is simply that she ministered to Him of her substance. She is not described as a teacher or a leader, but as one who gave quietly and consistently to make the work of the gospel possible. Her inclusion in the Gospel account ensures that her service, though briefly noted, is not forgotten.
The Name
The name Susanna comes from the Greek Σουσάννα (Sousanna), which is itself a rendering of the Hebrew name שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (Shoshannah). The name is widely understood to derive from the Hebrew word for a lily (שׁוֹשָׁן, shoshan), and it is commonly explained as meaning “lily” or “rose.” This meaning is well established and consistently attested in standard reference works on biblical names. It is worth noting, however, that the precise identification of the flower behind the Hebrew term is uncertain, so the traditional rendering “lily” reflects long-standing convention rather than absolute certainty.
A Closing Thought
Susanna’s story is told in a single verse, yet it is a verse about faithfulness. She gave what she had so that Jesus could go on teaching and healing, and her name was preserved because of it. Most of us will never be remembered by name for what we do, but that is not the point. Quiet, generous service offered to Christ is never wasted, even when no one but God takes notice. Susanna reminds us that the kingdom is built as much by those who give in the background as by those who stand in the foreground.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Luke 8:3 — And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.