That phrase comes from Leviticus 15:33 (KJV):
“And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, and of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.”
Meaning of the Phrase
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“Flowers” is an old English euphemism for a woman’s menstrual cycle (monthly period).
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“Sick of her flowers” therefore means a woman who is experiencing her menstrual period.
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In Levitical law, during this time she was considered ceremonially unclean for seven days (Leviticus 15:19).
Today’s Terminology
In modern terms, this simply refers to a woman during her menstruation.
Why the Bible Uses That Expression
The word “flowers” is related to the idea of blooming or fertility—a monthly sign of a woman’s ability to bear children. In Elizabethan English (the time of the KJV translators), “flowers” was a delicate way of speaking about menstruation, much like how today people may say “monthly cycle” or “time of the month.”
? Summary:
A woman “sick of her flowers” in Leviticus refers to a woman having her period—using the polite language of the time to describe menstruation.
