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Spice; Spices
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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spı̄s , spı̄´sis , - sez :
(1) ( בּשׂם , besem ( Exodus 30:23 ), בּשׂם , bōsem , plural בּשׂמים , besāmı̄m , all from root "to attract by desire," especially by smell): The list of spices in Exodus 30:23 includes myrrh, cinnamon, "sweet calamus cassia." These, mixed with olive oil, made the "holy anointing oil." Officials of the temple had charge of the spices ( 1 Chronicles 9:29 ). Among the treasures of the temple shown by Hezekiah to the messengers of Babylon were the spices (2 Kings 20:13 ). They were used in the obsequies of kings (2 Chronicles 16:14 ) and in preparation of a bride for a royal marriage (Esther 2:12 , "sweet-odors" = balsam). Spices are frequently mentioned in Song (Exodus 4:10 , Exodus 4:14 , Exodus 4:16; Exodus 5:1 , margin and the King James Version "balsam"; Song of Solomon 5:13; Song of Solomon 6:2 , "bed of spices," margin "balsam"; Song of Solomon 8:14 ). These passages in Song may refer in particular to balsam, the product of the balsam plant, Balsamodendron opobalsamum , a plant growing in Arabia. According to Josephus it was cultivated at Jericho, the plant having been brought to Palestine by the Queen of Sheba (Ant. , VIII, vi, 6; see also XIV , iv, 1; XV, iv, 2; BJ , I, vi, 6). See MYRRH .
(2) סמּים , ṣammı̄m ( Exodus 30:34 , "sweet spices")): "Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense." It is a general term for fragrant substances finely powdered. Compare Arabic shamm , "a smell" or "sense of smell"; generally translated "sweet incense" (Exodus 25:6; Exodus 30:7; Exodus 31:11; Exodus 35:8 , Exodus 35:15 , Exodus 35:28; Exodus 39:38; Exodus 40:27 (the King James Version only); Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 16:12; Numbers 4:16; 2 Chronicles 2:4 (the King James Version only); 2 Chronicles 13:11 ). In Exodus 37:29; Exodus 40:27; 2 Chronicles 2:4 , we have סמּים קטרת , ḳeṭōreth ṣammı̄m , "incense of sweet spices."
(3) ( נכאת , nekhō'th ; θυμιάματα , thumiámata ( Genesis 37:25 , "spicery," margin "gum tragacanth or storax"); θυμίαμα , thumı́ama "incense" (Genesis 43:11 , "spicery"; some Greek versions and the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) have "storax")): Storax is the dried gum of the beautiful Styrax officinalis (see POPLAR ), which was used as incense - different article from that now passing under that name. Tragacanth is the resinous gum of several species of milk vetch (Natural Order, Leguminosae ), especially of the Astragalus gummifer . Septuagint "incense" is probably the best translation.
(4) ( רקח , reḳaḥ , "spiced" wine ( Song of Solomon 8:2 )). See WINE .
(5) ( ἄρωμα , árōma , "spices" ( Mark 16:1 , the King James Version "sweet spices"; Luke 23:56; Luke 24:1; John 19:40; in John 19:39 defined as a mixture of aloes and myrrh)). See PERFUMES; BURIAL .
(6) ( ἄμωμον , ámōmon ( Revelation 18:13 ), margin "amomum"; the King James Version "odours"): The Greek means "blameless," and it was apparently applied in classical times to any sweet and fine odor. In modern botany the name Amomum is given to a genus in the Natural Order. Zingiberaceae . The well-known cardamon seeds (Amomum cardamomum ) and the A. grana Paradisi which yields the well-known "grains of Paradise," used as a stimulant, both belong to this genus. What was the substance indicated in Revelation 18:13 is quite uncertain.
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Spice; Spices'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/s/spice-spices.html. 1915.
