Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the concept of fragrance is often associated with offerings, worship, and the presence of God. Fragrance, in its various forms, symbolizes the pleasing aroma of sacrifices and the beauty of holiness. It is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, fragrant offerings were a significant part of the sacrificial system. The book of Exodus details the use of incense in worship, which was to be made from specific spices and burned as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Exodus 30:34-35 states, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal measures, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.'"
The burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings were also described as having a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord (
Leviticus 1:9, 2:2, 3:5). This phrase indicates God's acceptance and satisfaction with the offerings when they were made with a sincere heart and in accordance with His commandments.
The Song of Solomon frequently uses the imagery of fragrance to describe love and beauty. In
Song of Solomon 1:3 , the beloved's name is compared to "perfume poured out," suggesting the attractiveness and desirability of the beloved.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the concept of fragrance is expanded to include the spiritual sacrifices of believers. The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of fragrance to describe the life and ministry of Christians. In
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 , Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
This passage highlights the idea that the lives of believers, when lived in obedience to Christ, become a pleasing aroma to God and a testimony to the world. The fragrance of Christ is spread through the witness and actions of His followers.
Additionally, in
Ephesians 5:2 , Paul exhorts believers to "walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." Here, Christ's sacrificial love is described as a fragrant offering, emphasizing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as pleasing to God and the model for Christian love and sacrifice.
Symbolism and Spiritual SignificanceFragrance in the Bible often symbolizes the presence and favor of God. It represents the beauty and purity of worship that is acceptable to Him. The use of fragrant incense and offerings in the tabernacle and temple worship underscores the importance of approaching God with reverence and holiness.
Moreover, the metaphorical use of fragrance in the New Testament illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel. As believers embody the teachings of Christ, their lives emit a spiritual fragrance that draws others to the knowledge of God.
In summary, the biblical concept of fragrance encompasses both the literal use of aromatic substances in worship and the metaphorical representation of a life pleasing to God. It serves as a reminder of the importance of purity, sacrifice, and the spread of the Gospel through the lives of believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Affecting the olfactory nerves agreeably; sweet of smell; odorous; having or emitting an agreeable perfume.
Greek
299a. amomon -- amomum (afragrant plant of India)... 299, 299a. amomon. 299b . amomum (a
fragrant plant of India). Transliteration:
amomon Short Definition: spice. Word Origin of Indian
...299. amomos -- amomum (afragrant plant of India)
... amomum (afragrant plant of India). Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: amomos
Phonetic Spelling: (am'-o-mos) Short Definition: blameless Definition...
250. aloe -- aloe
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aloe Phonetic Spelling: (al-o-ay')
Short Definition: aloes Definition: aloes, the powderedfragrant aloe wood....
3487. nardos -- nard, ointment of nard
... 3487 -- nard (spikenard); an Indian plant, "used for the preparation of afragrant
ointment; Mk 14:3; Jn 12:3" (). When refined, nard is a "perfume, made...
2367. thuinos -- thyine, citron
... from the citron tree, thyine. From a derivative of thuo (in the sense of blowing;
denoting a certainfragrant tree); made of citron-wood -- thyine....
2175. euodia -- fragrance
... smell, fragrance. Word Origin from eu and ozo Definition fragrance NASB Word
Usage fragrance (1),fragrant (2). sweet smelling. From...
2368. thumiama -- incense
... incense, odor. From thumiao; an aroma, ieFragrant powder burnt in religious service;
by implication, the burning itself -- incense, odour. see GREEK thumiao....
Strong's Hebrew
5561. sam -- spice (used in incense)... 5560, 5561. sam. 5562 . spice (used in incense). Transliteration: sam
Phonetic Spelling: (sam) Short Definition:
fragrant. Word
...4017. Mibsam -- a son of Ishmael, also a Simeonite
... Mibsam. From the same as besem;fragrant; Mibsam, the name of an Ishmaelite and
of an Israelite -- Mibsam. see HEBREW besem. 4016, 4017. Mibsam. 4018 ....
3005. Yibsam -- a descendant of Issachar
... of Issachar NASB Word Usage Ibsam (1). Jibsam. From the same as besem;fragrant;
Jibsam, an Israelite -- Jibsam. see HEBREW besem. 3004, 3005. Yibsam. 3006 >...
1313. basam -- spice
... Word Origin the same as bosem, qv. spice From an unused root meaning to befragrant;
(compare cam) the balsam plant -- spice. see HEBREW cam. 1312, 1313....
1314. bosem -- spice, balsam, the balsam tree
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition spice, balsam, the balsam tree NASB Word
Usage balsam (3),fragrant (2), spice (2), spices (22), sweet perfume (1)....
916. bedolach -- probably bdellium
... bdellium. Probably from badal; something in pieces, ie Bdellium, a (fragrant) gum
(perhaps amber); others a pearl -- bdellium. see HEBREW badal. 915, 916....
5208. nichoach -- soothing, tranquilizing
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to nichoach Definition soothing, tranquilizing
NASB Word Usage acceptable sacrifices (1),fragrant incense (1)....
3405. Yericho -- a city in the Jordan Valley captured by Joshua
... Or Yrechow {yer-ay-kho'}; or variation (1 Kings 16:34) Yriychoh {yer-ee-kho'}; perhaps
from yareach; its month; or else from ruwach;fragrant; Jericho or...
2153. Zilpah -- one of Jacob's wives
... Zilpah. : from an unused root apparently meaning to trickle, as myrrh;fragrant
dropping; Zilpah, Leah's maid -- Zilpah. 2152, 2153. Zilpah. 2154 ....
2202. Ziphron -- a place on N. boundary of the promised land
... Ziphron. From an unused root (meaning to befragrant); Ziphron, a place in Palestine --
Ziphron. 2201, 2202. Ziphron. 2203 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Fragrant Graces
...Fragrant Graces. A Sermon (No.3480). Published on Thursday, October 7th, 1915.
Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At the [12]Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington....
Fragrant Spices from the Mountains of Myrrh. "Thou Art all Fair...
...FRAGRANT SPICES FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF MYRRH."Thou art all fair, My love;
there is no spot in thee.""Song of Solomon iv. 7.FRAGRANT...
For Thy Breasts are Better than Wine, and MoreFragrant than the...
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. 1, 2. For thy breasts are better than wine, and
morefragrant than the choicest ointments. Thy breasts, O...
A Farther Quotation from virgilius Maro Respecting Christ, with...
... Andfragrant herbs, to greet her infant king.... For the power of the Divine Spirit
presents the very cradle of God, likefragrant flowers, to the new-born race....
Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamps
... From lamps that brim with rich andfragrant oil, Or torches dry this heaven-sent
fire we feed; Or make us rushlights from the flowering reed And wax, whereon...
Death to Sin is the Way Out into a Life of Holiness.
... It is when the death of winter has done its work that the sun can draw out in each
plant its own individuality, and make its existence full andfragrant....
Concerning Things Performed in the Muron, and Concerning Things...
... orders of the imperfect are dismissed, that is, after the hierarchical procession
has made the whole circuit of the temple, attended withfragrant incense; and...
The Joy of Unbroken Communion
... The car of state in which they sit is built offragrant cedar from Lebanon, and
the finest of the gold and silver have been lavished in its construction....
Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
... As wine enlivens, and bread strengthens, and oil is rich, and honey is sweet, and
flowers arefragrant, and dew is refreshing, and foliage is beautiful; so...
The Treasure House
... cold and indifferent. It is always a personal refreshment whenFragrant
Clouds or Pearl Drops comes to see me. A warm friendship...
Thesaurus
Fragrant (30 Occurrences)...Fragrant (30 Occurrences).
... Exodus 25:6 oil for the light; spices for the anointing
oil, and for the incense of
fragrant drugs; (DBY NAS RSV NIV).
...Drugs (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Drugs (8 Occurrences). Exodus 25:6 oil for the light;
spices for the anointing oil, and for the incense offragrant drugs; (DBY)....
Cinnamon (4 Occurrences)
... The inner rind when dried and rolled into cylinders forms the cinnamon of commerce.
The fruit and coarser pieces of bark when boiled yield afragrant oil....
Odor (46 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Any smell, whetherfragrant or offensive;
scent; perfume. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ODOR. o...
Incense (167 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Afragrant composition prepared by the "art of the
apothecary." It consisted of four ingredients "beaten small" (Exodus 30:34-36)....
Spices (64 Occurrences)
... Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with
pure frankincense." It is a general term forfragrant substances finely...
Myrrh (22 Occurrences)
... (2) (loT, stakte; translated "myrrh" in Genesis 37:25, margin "ladanum"; 43:11):
Thefragrant resin obtained from some species of cistus and called in Arabic...
500 (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 30:23 "Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and
offragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and offragrant...
250 (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 30:23 "Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and
offragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and offragrant...
Liquid (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 30:23 "Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and
offragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and offragrant...
Resources
Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did the Magi bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I learn to not take offense at little things? | GotQuestions.orgFragrant: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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