Lexical Summary
reqach: Spice, ointment, perfume
Original Word:רֶקַח
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:reqach
Pronunciation:reh'-kakh
Phonetic Spelling:(reh'-kakh)
KJV: spiced
NASB:spiced
Word Origin:[fromH7543 (רָקַח - perfumer)]
1. (properly) perfumery
2. (by implication) spicery (for flavor)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
spiced
Fromraqach; properly, perfumery, i.e. (by implication) spicery (for flavor) -- spiced.
see HEBREWraqach
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
raqachDefinitionspice
NASB Translationspiced (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; —
Songs 8:2 wine, (that is)
spice (i.e. spiced wine).
Topical Lexicon
Scriptural Occurrence and Immediate ContextThe noun רֶקַח appears only once in the Old Testament, in the intimate dialogue ofSong of Solomon 8:2. Here the Shulammite declares, “I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house—she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates” (Song of Solomon 8:2). By offering her beloved a cup of aromatically seasoned wine, she expresses a desire for deeply personal fellowship within the secure setting of familial covenant.
Cultural and Historical Background
Spiced wine was a prized luxury throughout the Ancient Near East. Wines were often sweetened with honey and infused with aromatic botanicals such as myrrh, cinnamon, saffron, or calamus, creating a beverage reserved for special guests or festive banquets (compareEsther 5:6;Proverbs 9:2). Its preparation required both scarcity of ingredients and careful craftsmanship, signaling honor and affection toward the recipient.
Literary and Theological Significance in Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon employs everyday objects—gardens, perfumes, wine—to portray covenant love in heightened poetic language. The spiced wine of 8:2 serves several functions:
• It represents an intentional “mixing” or enhancement of ordinary joy, paralleling the deepening of marital intimacy.
• It underscores hospitality; the bride brings her beloved into the sphere of her mother, inviting generational blessing upon the union.
• On a canonical level, the verse contributes to the thematic portrayal of mutual delight that, by typological extension, foreshadows the communion Christ enjoys with His redeemed people (Ephesians 5:25-32).
Symbolic Echoes Elsewhere in Scripture
Although רֶקַח itself is unique to Song of Solomon, Scripture repeatedly links mixed wine with abundance, celebration, and wisdom:
•Proverbs 9:2—Wisdom “has mixed her wine” as part of a banquet that invites the simple to life.
•Psalm 104:14-15—The Lord provides “wine that gladdens the heart of man,” associating it with divine benevolence in creation.
•Isaiah 55:1—A gracious invitation to receive “wine and milk without money and without cost,” prefiguring the gospel offer.
These parallels reinforce the picture of cultivated joy that God graciously supplies and sanctifies.
Christological and Redemptive Connections
The bride’s pledge to pour out spiced wine anticipates the greater covenant cup introduced by Jesus Christ. At Cana, ordinary water becomes exceptional wine at His word (John 2:1-11), signaling messianic abundance. At the Last Supper, wine becomes the emblem of His shed blood (Matthew 26:27-28). Both events fulfill the promise of a richer, fuller communion hinted at in the Song’s fragrant cup.
Practical Ministry Reflections
1. Worship: The image of spiced wine encourages believers to approach corporate worship not as a bare duty but as a fragrant offering enhanced by heartfelt devotion (Colossians 3:16).
2. Hospitality: Just as the bride prepares a special beverage for her beloved, Christians are exhorted to practice generous hospitality that communicates honor (Romans 12:10-13).
3. Discipleship: Bringing a loved one “to my mother’s house” suggests mentorship within covenant families and congregations, where spiritual “fathers and mothers” teach younger saints (Titus 2:1-5).
4. Communion: Each celebration of the Lord’s Table should remind the church that Christ’s cup is infinitely richer than that of Solomon’s bride, embodying both sacrificial cost and eternal delight.
Summary
רֶקַח, though occurring only once, conveys layers of meaning—lavish hospitality, covenant intimacy, and anticipatory joy—all culminating in the finished work of Christ and the believer’s ongoing fellowship with Him.
Forms and Transliterations
הָרֶ֔קַח הרקח hā·re·qaḥ haRekach hāreqaḥ
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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