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Exodus 30:23
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundredshekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much,even two hundred and fiftyshekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fiftyshekels,

Ezekiel 27:19
Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.

cinnamon

Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Revelation 18:13
And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

trees

Song of Solomon 4:6
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

Song of Solomon 5:1
I am come into my garden, my sister,my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

Numbers 24:6
As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted,and as cedar trees beside the waters.

the chief

Song of Solomon 6:2
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

Genesis 43:11
And their father Israel said unto them, Ifit must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

1 Kings 10:10
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

with calamus and cinnamon
Calamus, a fragrant reed, was used in the sacred anointing oil described inExodus 30:23-25, signifying its importance in worship and consecration. Cinnamon, a spice obtained from the inner bark of trees, was also part of the holy anointing oil and was highly valued for its fragrance and preservative qualities. These spices highlight the sacred and cherished nature of the relationship, drawing parallels to the sanctity of worship and the offering of one's life to God.

with every kind of frankincense tree
Frankincense, a resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, was a key component in the incense used in temple worship (Exodus 30:34). It represents prayer and the presence of God, as its smoke ascends to heaven. The mention of "every kind" suggests abundance and variety, emphasizing the completeness and richness of the love described. Frankincense is also associated with the gifts brought to Jesus by the Magi (Matthew 2:11), symbolizing His priestly role.

with myrrh and aloes
Myrrh, a resin used for anointing and embalming, signifies suffering and sacrifice, as it was one of the gifts given to Jesus at His birth (Matthew 2:11) and used at His burial (John 19:39). Aloes, derived from the wood of certain trees, were used for their fragrance and preservative properties. Together, myrrh and aloes suggest themes of love enduring through trials and the eternal nature of the bond, reflecting Christ's sacrificial love for His church.

with all the finest spices
The phrase "all the finest spices" encapsulates the idea of completeness and perfection. It suggests that the love and beauty described are unparalleled and all-encompassing. In a broader biblical context, spices often symbolize the richness of God's blessings and the depth of spiritual devotion. This imagery can be seen as a type of the ultimate union between Christ and His bride, the Church, where every spiritual blessing is bestowed (Ephesians 1:3).

“nard and saffron” (Songs 4:14) opens the list with two of the most precious fragrances of the ancient world. Picture Solomon delighting in the scent wafting from a secluded garden.

• Nard appears again when Mary pours it on Jesus’ feet (John 12:3), showing lavish devotion.

• Its rarity hints at how the bride’s love is costly and intentional.

• Saffron, the bright orange stigma of the crocus, colors food and perfume alike; it evokes joy and warmth, much like the delight God takes in the faith of His people (Zephaniah 3:17).

Together they remind us that authentic love for God—and for one another—ought to be both extravagant and joy-filled.

Next come “calamus and cinnamon.” Both were ingredients in the sacred anointing oil ofExodus 30:22-25, so any Hebrew reader would sense a worship motif.

• Calamus, a sweet reed, speaks of uprightness; its straight stalk mirrors a life that stands tall in integrity (Proverbs 11:3).

• Cinnamon’s warm spice suggests intimacy and welcome. InProverbs 7:17 it perfumes a marriage bed—here it signals married delight celebrated within God’s design.

Solomon is saying, “Your character carries the aroma of true worship.”

Frankincense trees supplied the resin burned in temple worship (Exodus 30:34).

• Its smoke rising heavenward symbolizes prayer (Psalm 141:2).

• When the Magi offered frankincense to Jesus (Matthew 2:11), they acknowledged His deity.

The bride, then, is portrayed as a source of prayerful devotion. A godly marriage, and by extension a godly believer, continually lifts sweet petitions to the Lord.

“Myrrh and aloes” blend sweetness with solemnity.

•Psalm 45:8 mixes them in royal wedding imagery, foreshadowing Christ the King.

•John 19:39 records Nicodemus burying Jesus with “a mixture of myrrh and aloes.”

These scents whisper of sacrificial love—love willing to suffer, serve, and remain faithful. A healthy marriage carries that same self-giving quality, mirroring Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5:25).

Finally, Solomon gathers the entire bouquet into “all the finest spices.”

• The phrase signals fullness and maturity, like the complete cluster of spiritual fruit inGalatians 5:22-23.

• Second Corinthians 2:14-15 calls believers “the fragrance of Christ,” spreading His knowledge everywhere.

Every corner of the garden—every aspect of the believer’s life—is meant to release a God-honoring aroma.

Song of Solomon 4:14 layers spice upon spice to paint a portrait of devoted, joyful, prayer-soaked, sacrificial love that delights the Bridegroom. In the immediate context, Solomon is praising his bride; in the broader sweep of Scripture, the verse invites every believer to become a fragrant garden where Christ finds “all the finest spices” of worship, integrity, intimacy, prayer, and self-giving love.

Calamus.--Heb.kaneh.(Comp.kaneh bosem =sweet calamus,Exodus 30:23;k. hottov--sweet cane,Jeremiah 6:20.) There are many sweet grasses in India and the East.Andropogon calamus aromaticushas been identified (Royle) with the "reed of fragrance" of Exodus, and Jeremiah's "good reed from a far country," but the identification is not to be implicitly accepted. (SeeBible Educator,Vol. I., p. 245.)

Cinnamon.--Heb.kinnamonprobably includedCinnamomum Zeylanicum(cinnamon) andCinnamomum cassia(Cassia lignea).(SeeBible Educator,Vol. I., p. 245.) The rind of the plant is the "cinnamon" in use. The plant belongs to the family of laurels, and grows in Ceylon, on the Malabar coast, and in East Indian Islands. It attains a height of from twenty to thirty feet, having numerous boughs, bearing leaves of a scarlet colour when young, but changing to a bright green, and white blossoms.

Aloes.--See Note,Numbers 24:6. . . .

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