Dictionaries :: Myrrh

Myrrh:

Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Exd 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus (Mat 2:11). It was used in embalming (Jhn 19:39), also as a perfume (Est 2:12; Psa 45:8; Pro 7:17). It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion "wine mingled with myrrh" to produce insensibility. This drugged wine was probably partaken of by the two malefactors, but when the Roman soldiers pressed it upon Jesus "he received it not" (Mar 15:23). (See GALL.)

This was the gum or viscid white liquid which flows from a tree resembling the acacia, found in Africa and Arabia, the Balsamodendron myrrha of botanists. The "bundle of myrrh" in Sgs 1:13 is rather a "bag" of myrrh or a scent-bag.

(2.) Another word lot is also translated "myrrh" (Gen 37:25; 43:11; R.V., marg., "or ladanum"). What was meant by this word is uncertain. It has been thought to be the chestnut, mastich, stacte, balsam, turpentine, pistachio nut, or the lotus. It is probably correctly rendered by the Latin word ladanum, the Arabic ladan, an aromatic juice of a shrub called the Cistus or rock rose, which has the same qualities, though in a slight degree, of opium, whence a decoction of opium is called laudanum. This plant was indigenous to Syria and Arabia.

Myrrh:

mur:

(1) (mor or mowr; Arabic murr]): This substance is mentioned as valuable for its perfume (Ps 45:8; Pr 7:17; So 3:6; 4:14), and as one of the constituents of the holy incense (Ex 30:23; see also So 4:6; 5:1,5,13). Mor is generally identified with the "myrrh" of commerce, the dried gum of a species of balsam (Balsamodendron myrrha). This is a stunted tree growing in Arabia, having a light-gray bark; the gum resin exudes in small tear-like drops which dry to a rich brown or reddish-yellow, brittle substance, with a faint though agreeable smell and a warm, bitter taste. It is still used as medicine (Mr 15:23). On account, however, of the references to "flowing myrrh" (Ex 30:23) and "liquid myrrh" (So 5:5,13), Schweinfurth maintains that mor was not a dried gum but the liquid balsam of Balsamodendron opobalsamum.

Whichever view is correct, it is probable that the smurna, of the New Testament was the same. In Mt 2:11 it is brought by the "Wise men" of the East as an offering to the infant Saviour; in Mr 15:23 it is offered mingled with wine as an anesthetic to the suffering Redeemer, and in Joh 19:39 a "mixture of myrrh and aloes" is brought by Nicodemus to embalm the sacred body.

(2) (loT, stakte; translated "myrrh" in Ge 37:25, margin "ladanum"; 43:11): The fragrant resin obtained from some species of cistus and called in Arabic ladham, in Latin ladanum. The cistus or "rock rose" is exceedingly common all over the mountains of Palestine (see BOTANY), the usual varieties being the C. villosus with pink petals, and the C. salviaefolius with white petals. No commerce is done now in Palestine in this substance as of old (Ge 37:25; 43:11), but it is still gathered from various species of cistus, especially C. creticus in the Greek Isles, where it is collected by threshing the plants by a kind of flail from which the sticky mass is scraped off with a knife and rolled into small black balls. In Cyprus at the present time the gum is collected from the beards of the goats that browse on these shrubs, as was done in the days of Herodotus iii.112).

Written by E. W. G. Masterman

See BALSAM

Myrrh: Definition Of

A fragrant gum

Myrrh: A Product of the Land of Canaan

Sgs 4:6, 14; 5:1

Myrrh: One of the Compounds

In the sacred anointing oil,

Exd 30:23.

Myrrh: Used as a Perfume

Est 2:12; Psa 45:8; Pro 7:17; Sgs 3:6; 5:13

Myrrh: Brought by the Wise Men (Magi)

As a present to Jesus,

Mat 2:11.

Myrrh: Offered to Jesus on the Cross

Mar 15:23

Myrrh: Used for Embalming

Jhn 19:39

Myrrh: Traffic In

Gen 37:25; 43:11

Myrrh:

whence the name "Smyrna," a word of Semitic origin, Heb., mor, from a root meaning "bitter," is a gum resin from a shrubby tree, which grows in Yemen and neighboring regions of Africa; the fruit is smooth and somewhat larger than a pea. The color of myrrh varies from pale reddish-yellow to reddish-brown or red. The taste is bitter, and the substance astringent, acting as an antiseptic and a stimulant. It was used as a perfume, Psa 45:8, where the language is symbolic of the graces of the Messiah; Pro 7:17; Sgs 1:13; 5:5; it was one of the ingredients of the "holy anointing oil" for the priests, Exd 30:23 (RV, "flowing myrrh"); it was used also for the purification of women, Est 2:12; for embalming, Jhn 19:39; as an anodyne (see B); it was one of the gifts of the Magi, Mat 2:11.

Myrrh:

is used transitively in the NT, with the meaning "to mingle or drug with myrrh," Mar 15:23; the mixture was doubtless offered to deaden the pain (Matthew's word "gall" suggests that "myrrh" was not the only ingredient). Christ refused to partake of any such means of alleviation; He would retain all His mental power for the complete fulfillment of the Father's will.

Myrrh:

This substance is mentioned in Exodus 30:23 as one of the ingredients of the "oil of holy ointment:" in Esther 2:12 as one of the substances used in the purification of women; in Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17 and in several passages in Canticles, as a perfume. The Greek occurs in Matthew 2:11 among the gifts brought by the wise men to the infant Jesus and in Mark 15:23 it is said that "wine mingled with myrrh" was offered to but refused by, our Lord on the cross. Myrrh was also used for embalming. See John 19:39 and Herod. ii. 86. The Balsamodendron myrrha, which produces the myrrh of commerce, has a wood and bark which emit a strong odor; the gum which exudes from the bark is at first oily, but becomes hard by exposure to the air. (This myrrh is in small yellowish or white globules or tears. The tree is small, with a stunted trunk, covered with light‐gray bark, It is found in Arabia Felix. The myrrh of Genesis 37:25 was probably ladalzum, a highly‐fragrant resin and volatile oil used as a cosmetic, and stimulative as a medicine. It is yielded by the cistus, known in Europe as the rock rose, a shrub with rose‐colored flowers, growing in Palestine and along the shores of the Mediterranean.-ED.) For wine mingled with myrrh SEE [GALL, 2].