250. aloé

Lexicon

aloé: Aloe

Original Word: ἀλόη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: aloé
Pronunciation: al-o-AY
Phonetic Spelling: (al-o-ay')
Definition: Aloe
Meaning: aloes, the powdered fragrant aloe wood.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

aloes.

Of foreign origin (compare akanthinos); aloes (the gum) -- aloes.

see GREEK akanthinos

HELPS Word-studies

250 alóē – "The strongly aromatic, quick-drying sap of a tree (the Aquillaria) – mixed with myrrh and used for embalming" (BAGD); "the true aloe plant (Aloē succotrina Lam, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1:99).

250 (aloē) was used in ancient times for embalming fluid mixed with myrrh. Aloē is used in the Septuagint (S of Sol 4:14) as a "spice of love."

[It probably refers to an aromatic substance derived from the eaglewood tree (Aquilaria agallocha, ibid), CBL.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
aloe
NASB Translation
aloes (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 250: ἀλόη

ἀλόη (on the accent see Chandler § 149), (ης, ἡ, (commonly ξυλαλόν, ἀγάλλοχον), Plutarch, "the aloe, aloes: John 19:39. The name of an aromatic tree which grows in eastern India and Cochin China, and whose soft and bitter wood the Orientals used in fumigation and in embalming the dead (as, according to Herodotus, the Egyptians did), Hebrew אֲהָלִים and אֲהָלות (see Muhlau and Volck under the words), Numbers 24:6; Psalm 45:9; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 4:14. Arabic:Alluwe; Linn.:Excoecaria Agallochum. Cf. Winers RWB under the word Aloe (Low § 235; BB. DD.).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from Hebrew אָהָל (ahal), which refers to the fragrant wood of the aloe tree.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Hebrew entry is Strong's Hebrew 174 (אָהָל, ahal), which refers to the same aromatic wood used in perfumes and for embalming purposes.

Usage: The term ἀλόη is used in the New Testament to refer to the aromatic substance derived from the aloe tree, often used in burial practices.

Context: The Greek term ἀλόη (alóē) appears in the New Testament in the context of burial customs. In John 19:39, Nicodemus brings a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds, to anoint the body of Jesus for burial. This reflects the Jewish burial customs of the time, where spices and aromatic substances were used to honor the deceased and mitigate the odor of decay.

Aloes, in the biblical context, are not to be confused with the modern aloe vera plant. Instead, they refer to a costly and fragrant wood, likely from the Aquilaria tree, which was highly valued in ancient times for its aromatic properties. The use of aloes in burial practices underscores the respect and honor given to the deceased, as well as the belief in the importance of proper burial rites.

The mention of aloes in the New Testament highlights the cultural and religious practices of the Jewish people during the Second Temple period. It also serves as a testament to the wealth and devotion of Nicodemus, who provided such a significant quantity of these costly materials for the burial of Jesus.

Forms and Transliterations

αλοης αλόης ἀλόης αλοητός αλοιφή αλοιφήν αλοιφής aloes aloēs alóes alóēs

Englishman's Concordance

John 19:39 N-GFS
GRK: σμύρνης καὶ ἀλόης ὡς λίτρας
NAS: of myrrh and aloes, about
KJV: of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred
INT: of myrrh and aloes about litras

Strong's Greek 250
1 Occurrence

ἀλόης — 1 Occ.