Lexical Summary qetsiah: Cassia Original Word: קִצְיעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cassia From qatsa'; cassia (as peeled; plural the bark) -- cassia. see HEBREW qatsa' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qatsa Definition cassia (a powdered bark) NASB Translation cassia (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [קְצִיעָה] noun feminine cassia, a powdered bark, like cinnamon (hence Greek κασία, Latin casia, LewyFremdw. 37); — plural (מֹר וַאֲהָלוֺת) פָצִיעוֺת Psalm 45:9 (Che now תּוּצַק are shed, see inEncy. Bib. CASSIA, n.). Topical Lexicon Botanical and Commercial Context Cassia is the aromatic bark of a tree in the cinnamon family. Harvested by peeling and drying the outer layers, it produces a warm, sweet-spicy fragrance prized in the ancient Near East. Merchants transported the spice along caravan routes from India and Arabia into Israel (compare Ezekiel 27:19). Because it was costly, its presence in royal courts and sacred compounds signified wealth, dignity, and joyful celebration. Scriptural Occurrence The term קִצְיעָה (Strong’s Hebrew 7102) appears once, in Psalm 45:8, where the King’s garments emit “myrrh and aloes and cassia” (Berean Standard Bible). The psalm portrays a royal wedding but ultimately points to the Messiah, so the fragrance adorning the King carries both historical and prophetic weight. Symbolic Significance 1. Royal Splendor. The scent clinging to the King’s robes evokes luxury befitting a sovereign. It assures the reader that God’s chosen ruler lacks nothing necessary for kingship (Psalm 45:2–5). Connection to the Anointing Oil Though Psalm 45 employs קִצְיעָה, Exodus 30:24 uses a cognate for cassia as a chief ingredient in the sacred anointing oil. The overlap links the King of Psalm 45 with the priestly ministry in the tabernacle: both are consecrated by a fragrant mixture that sets them apart for divine service. Hebrews 1:8–9 joins these themes when it cites Psalm 45, applying the passage to Jesus Christ and affirming His priestly kingship. Prophetic and Messianic Dimension Psalm 45 is quoted in Hebrews 1:8–9 as direct testimony to the eternal throne of the Son. The cassia-laden garments anticipate the incarnation, in which the Messiah would enter history clothed with a fragrance that speaks of perfect obedience and sacrificial love. The spice’s sweetness stands in deliberate contrast to the bitterness of His sufferings, reminding believers that His rule issues in joy for all who take refuge in Him (Psalm 45:6–7; John 15:11). Liturgical and Devotional Use In Christian worship, Psalm 45 inspires hymns celebrating Christ the Bridegroom and the Church His bride (Ephesians 5:25–32). Cassia’s aroma serves as a sensory metaphor: as priests once handled literal spices, so worshipers today are called to offer “the pleasing aroma of Christ” through holy living and sacrificial service (2 Corinthians 2:14–16). Related Words and Distinctions קִצְיעָה (Psalm 45:8) designates a perfumed bark; קִדָּה (Exodus 30:24; Ezekiel 27:19) refers to the same spice in a different form. The separate roots highlight a common substance serving varied purposes—royal adornment and priestly anointing—reinforcing the unity of Scripture’s witness to the offices of Christ. Key Truths for Believers • The fragrance of cassia in Psalm 45 confirms the beauty, joy, and majesty of the Messiah’s reign. Forms and Transliterations קְ֭צִיעוֹת קציעות Ketziot qə·ṣî·‘ō·wṯ qəṣî‘ōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 45:8 HEB: מֹר־ וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כָּל־ בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ NAS: and aloes [and] cassia; Out of ivory KJV: and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory INT: myrrh and aloes cassia All your garments 1 Occurrence |
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