(plural 
), which has not yet been explained, notwithstanding the Syriac "reshaḳa de-warda" = "rose-seed" (Löw, "Aramäische Pflanzennamen," p. 21b).A species of Valeriana spica Vahl = Nardostachys Jatamansi De Candolle, growing in eastern Asia. It was well known to the ancients as a perfume because of the pungent but pleasant odor of its root; and it formed, under the name of "spica nardi" or "nardus Indica" the chief component of spikenard oil and ointment.
In the Bible it occurs only in Song of Solomon 1:12; 4:13,14. The nard does not grow in Palestine, being merely a plant of the poet's imaginary garden (see HORTICULTURE). Costly spikenard ointment is mentioned in the New Testament also (Mark 14:3; John 12:3). In the Mishnah nard, which is a constituent of the sacred incense, is called "shibbolet nerd." This is explained by Hai Gaon as the "sunbul al-nardin" of the pharmacologists. The same rendering is given by Maimonides ("Yad," Kele ha-Miḳdash, 2:3) and by Abudarham (ed. Prague, 38b), who says, "It is so called because it consists of delicate filaments, like an ear of corn"; and Rashi likewise alludes to this resemblance (comp. Exodus 30:34).
In the Targum "narda" is used only in Song of Solomon 1:12, where it is retained from the text and is used in a haggadic connection. Elsewhere (4:13-14) the Targum has (plural ), which has not yet been explained, notwithstanding the Syriac "reshaḳa de-warda" = "rose-seed" (Löw, "Aramäische Pflanzennamen," p. 21b).