5561. sam
Lexical Summary
sam: Spice, perfume, aromatic

Original Word: סַם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: cam
Pronunciation: sahm
Phonetic Spelling: (sam)
KJV: sweet (spice)
NASB: fragrant, spices, fragrant spices, sweet
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to smell sweet]

1. an aroma

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
sweet spice

From an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma -- sweet (spice).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
spice (used in incense)
NASB Translation
fragrant (12), fragrant spices (1), spices (2), sweet (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[סַם]16 noun masculine spice, used in incense; — only plural absolute סַמִּים, and only P, Chronicles; Exodus 30:34 (twice in verse), elsewhere (הַ)סַּמִּים קְטֹרֶת incense of spices Exodus 25:6 8t. Exodus; Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 16:12; Numbers 4:16; 2Chron 2:3; 2 Chronicles 3:11.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

סַם designates aromatic substances prepared for sacred use—chiefly the fragrant incense and anointing oils employed in Israel’s corporate worship. Although cognate words describe decorative spices or medicines, every biblical occurrence of this term centers on the sanctuary and its ministry before the LORD.

Canonical Occurrences and Narrative Setting

Sixteen verses cluster around two covenantal venues: the wilderness tabernacle (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers) and the Solomonic temple later maintained in Judah (2 Chronicles). This distribution underscores continuity between the Mosaic pattern and Jerusalem’s centralized worship.
Exodus 25:6; 30:7, 34; 31:11; 35:8, 15, 28; 37:29; 39:38; 40:27 establish סַם as one of the indispensable supplies contributed, fashioned, and continually offered.
Leviticus 4:7; 16:12 and Numbers 4:16 link it to atonement rituals and priestly oversight.
2 Chronicles 2:4; 13:11 show its enduring place in the daily and festal liturgy centuries later.

Composition and Preparation

Exodus 30:34–35 provides the only inspired recipe: “Take fragrant spices—stacte, onycha, 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”. Set apart from ordinary perfumery, this blend could not be duplicated for personal use (Exodus 30:37–38). The restriction guarded the transcendence of divine worship and protected Israel against syncretistic appropriation.

Function in Sacred Worship

1. Daily Intercession: “Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning… and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight” (Exodus 30:7–8). The twice-daily offering bookended Israel’s sacrificial schedule, depicting unceasing mediation.
2. Annual Atonement: On Yom Kippur the high priest “takes… two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take[s] them behind the veil” (Leviticus 16:12). The cloud that rose over the mercy seat shielded him from death and wrapped the atonement blood in fragrance.
3. Consecration of Persons and Things: Mixed with olive oil, סַם formed the holy anointing oil (Exodus 25:6; 30:25) that sanctified the tent, its furniture, and the priesthood.
4. Stewardship: Eleazar “had charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense… and the anointing oil” (Numbers 4:16). Proper administration testified that order and holiness go together in God’s service.
5. Temple Continuity: Solomon’s mandate—“to dedicate it… for burning fragrant incense” (2 Chronicles 2:4)—and Abijah’s later defense (2 Chronicles 13:11) anchor the ordinance as a covenantal hallmark distinguishing true worship from apostasy.

Theological Symbolism

• Acceptance: The smoke ascending from the golden altar visualized prayers accompanied by divine approval (Psalm 141:2).
• Mediation: Only authorized priests could present סַם, pointing to the necessity of a mediator.
• Holiness: Its exclusive recipe and restricted usage mirror the uniqueness of Yahweh’s glory and the separation demanded of His people.
• Satisfaction: The pleasing aroma motif anticipates sacrifice that fully satisfies God (Genesis 8:21; Ephesians 5:2).

Typology Fulfilled in Christ

The fragrant blend anticipates the perfect intercession of Jesus Messiah. Hebrews 7:25 declares, “Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” Revelation 8:3–4 portrays golden-altar incense mingling with the prayers of the saints through the merits of the Lamb. The once-for-all atonement (Hebrews 9:24–26) renders perpetual animal sacrifice obsolete, yet the Godward fragrance remains in His ongoing priestly ministry.

Lessons for Christian Worship and Ministry

• Prayer is central, continual, and to be offered through Christ’s mediation.
• Authentic worship guards God’s holiness by rejecting self-made substitutes.
• Spiritual leadership must steward sacred trust with exact obedience, as Eleazar did with סַם.
• Congregational participation parallels the people’s contribution of spices (Exodus 35:28), reminding believers that corporate devotion is both privilege and responsibility.
• Evangelistic fragrance: “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15), echoing the sanctuary aroma now diffused through the church’s witness.

From Sinai to Zion and from Calvary to eternity, סַם traces an unbroken thread of fragrant communion between God and His redeemed people.

Forms and Transliterations
הַסַּמִּ֑ים הַסַּמִּ֔ים הַסַּמִּ֖ים הַסַּמִּֽים׃ הַסַּמִּים֙ הסמים הסמים׃ סַמִּ֑ים סַמִּ֖ים סַמִּ֗ים סַמִּים֩ סמים has·sam·mîm hassamMim hassammîm sam·mîm samMim sammîm
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 25:6
HEB: הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃
NAS: oil and for the fragrant incense,
KJV: oil, and for sweet incense,
INT: the anointing incense the fragrant

Exodus 30:7
HEB: אַהֲרֹ֖ן קְטֹ֣רֶת סַמִּ֑ים בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֗קֶר
NAS: shall burn fragrant incense
KJV: shall burn thereon sweet incense
INT: Aaron incense fragrant morning morning

Exodus 30:34
HEB: קַח־ לְךָ֣ סַמִּ֗ים נָטָ֤ף ׀ וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙
NAS: Take for yourself spices, stacte
KJV: Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte,
INT: Moses Take spices stacte and onycha

Exodus 30:34
HEB: וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙ וְחֶלְבְּנָ֔ה סַמִּ֖ים וּלְבֹנָ֣ה זַכָּ֑ה
NAS: and galbanum, spices with pure
KJV: and galbanum; [these] sweet spices
INT: and onycha and galbanum spices frankincense pure

Exodus 31:11
HEB: וְאֶת־ קְטֹ֥רֶת הַסַּמִּ֖ים לַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ כְּכֹ֥ל
NAS: oil also, and the fragrant incense
KJV: oil, and sweet incense
INT: the anointing incense and the fragrant the holy to all

Exodus 35:8
HEB: הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃
NAS: oil, and for the fragrant incense,
KJV: oil, and for the sweet incense,
INT: the anointing incense the fragrant

Exodus 35:15
HEB: וְאֵ֖ת קְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֑ים וְאֶת־ מָסַ֥ךְ
NAS: oil and the fragrant incense,
KJV: oil, and the sweet incense,
INT: and the anointing incense and the fragrant and the screen the doorway

Exodus 35:28
HEB: הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃
NAS: oil and for the fragrant incense.
KJV: oil, and for the sweet incense.
INT: the anointing incense the fragrant

Exodus 37:29
HEB: וְאֶת־ קְטֹ֥רֶת הַסַּמִּ֖ים טָה֑וֹר מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה
NAS: and the pure, fragrant incense
KJV: incense of sweet spices, according to the work
INT: the holy incense fragrant and the pure the work

Exodus 39:38
HEB: וְאֵ֖ת קְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֑ים וְאֵ֕ת מָסַ֖ךְ
NAS: oil and the fragrant incense,
KJV: oil, and the sweet incense,
INT: and the anointing incense and the fragrant and the veil the doorway

Exodus 40:27
HEB: עָלָ֖יו קְטֹ֣רֶת סַמִּ֑ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה
NAS: and he burned fragrant incense
KJV: And he burnt sweet incense
INT: and incense fragrant after had commanded

Leviticus 4:7
HEB: מִזְבַּ֨ח קְטֹ֤רֶת הַסַּמִּים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה
NAS: of the altar of fragrant incense
KJV: of the altar of sweet incense
INT: of the altar incense of fragrant is before the LORD

Leviticus 16:12
HEB: חָפְנָ֔יו קְטֹ֥רֶת סַמִּ֖ים דַּקָּ֑ה וְהֵבִ֖יא
NAS: of finely ground sweet incense,
KJV: full of sweet incense
INT: and his hands incense sweet of finely and bring

Numbers 4:16
HEB: הַמָּאוֹר֙ וּקְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֔ים וּמִנְחַ֥ת הַתָּמִ֖יד
NAS: for the light and the fragrant incense
KJV: for the light, and the sweet incense,
INT: the light incense and the fragrant offering and the continual

2 Chronicles 2:4
HEB: לְפָנָ֣יו קְטֹֽרֶת־ סַמִּים֩ וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶת תָּמִ֤יד
NAS: it to Him, to burn fragrant incense
KJV: before him sweet incense,
INT: before incense fragrant the showbread continually

2 Chronicles 13:11
HEB: בָּעֶ֣רֶב וּקְטֹֽרֶת־ סַמִּים֩ וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶת לֶ֜חֶם
NAS: burnt offerings and fragrant incense,
KJV: burnt sacrifices and sweet incense:
INT: every incense and fragrant row bread

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5561
16 Occurrences


has·sam·mîm — 9 Occ.
sam·mîm — 7 Occ.

5560
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