Myrrh
“Bitter”
Summary
Myrrh was a fragrant gum-resin from the Balsamodendron myrrha tree, highly valued for use in the holy anointing oil, as perfume, for embalming, and as one of the gifts the Magi presented to the infant Jesus.
☩Description and Source
Myrrh (Hebrew mor, Greek smurna) was a gum-resin obtained from the Balsamodendron myrrha, a small, stunted, thorny shrub growing in Arabia Felix, Somaliland, and regions bordering the Red Sea. The tree was unattractive, rigid, and spiny with scanty foliage. Myrrh exuded from the bark in small tear-like drops, which gradually hardened into a yellow or reddish-brown, brittle, translucent substance with a warm, bitter taste and balsamic smell. The name derives from Hebrew and Arabic roots meaning 'bitter.' The best myrrh was the 'pure' or self-flowing kind, which dripped naturally without incision.
☩Sacred and Ceremonial Uses
Myrrh was one of the 'principal spices' in the holy anointing oil—five hundred shekels of 'pure myrrh' (Hebrew mor deror) were prescribed among its ingredients. The Persians purified women with oil of myrrh for six months before their presentation to the king, as Esther was prepared. It was used as a precious perfume, anointing garments and beds with its fragrance. The Song of Solomon repeatedly mentions myrrh as a symbol of love's sweetness, speaking of a 'bundle' or scent-bag of myrrh worn at the neck. Myrrh and frankincense are frequently mentioned together as choice offerings.
☩Gift of the Magi
Myrrh was one of the three gifts presented by the Magi to the infant Jesus, along with gold and frankincense. Ancient commentators affirmed that each gift held spiritual significance: gold acknowledged His kingship, frankincense His deity, and myrrh His humanity and coming death, since it was used for embalming. One ancient hymn states: 'Gold, a monarch to declare; frankincense, that God is there; myrrh, to tell the heavier tale of His tomb and funeral.' While such symbolism may not have been consciously intended by the Magi, they offered the choicest products of their country to the newborn King.
☩At the Crucifixion and Burial
Before Jesus was crucified, He was offered 'wine mingled with myrrh' (Mark) or 'wine mingled with gall' (Matthew)—likely the same drink, as myrrh made wine bitter. This sopor was regularly offered to condemned criminals as an anodyne to dull the senses before execution, provided by an association of women in Jerusalem. Jesus tasted it but refused to drink, choosing to meet death in full consciousness rather than have His sufferings dulled. After His death, Nicodemus brought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes to prepare His body for burial, following the Egyptian method of embalming.
☩Lot: A Different Substance
A different Hebrew word, lot, also translated 'myrrh' in some passages, refers not to true myrrh but to ladanum, a fragrant resin from the cistus or 'rock rose' growing in Palestine and Gilead. This was among the products Jacob sent as a gift to Egypt and was carried by Ishmaelite traders. Unlike true myrrh, which grew only in Arabia and Africa, ladanum was produced locally and was an important article of Canaanite trade.
Related Verses16 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Myrrh," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Myrrh," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Myrrh," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 4.George Morrish, "Myrrh," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 5.John McClintock and James Strong, "Myrrh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).