Topical Bible: Odor

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, "odor" often refers to the fragrance or aroma associated with offerings, sacrifices, and the presence of God. The concept of odor in the Bible is rich with symbolic meaning, representing both the physical sense of smell and the spiritual implications of worship, sacrifice, and divine presence.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the term "odor" is frequently associated with the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. The aroma of burnt offerings is described as a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord. For instance, in Genesis 8:21 , after Noah offered burnt offerings to God following the flood, it is written, "When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.'"

The Levitical laws also emphasize the importance of offerings producing a pleasing odor to God. In Leviticus 1:9 , regarding the burnt offering, it states, "The priest is to burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." This pleasing aroma signifies God's acceptance of the offering and the worshiper's devotion.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of odor takes on a more spiritual dimension, often linked to the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of fragrance to describe the knowledge of Christ and the life of believers. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 , Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

Furthermore, the sacrificial death of Christ is described as a fragrant offering to God. Ephesians 5:2 states, "And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." This highlights the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system, pleasing to God and efficacious for the salvation of humanity.

Symbolism and Spiritual Implications

The use of odor in the Bible symbolizes the acceptance and pleasure of God in the worship and sacrifices of His people. It also represents the spiritual life of believers, who are called to be a pleasing aroma to God through their lives and actions. The imagery of fragrance and odor serves as a reminder of the intimate relationship between God and His people, where true worship and devotion are likened to a sweet-smelling sacrifice.

In the broader biblical narrative, odor signifies the presence of God and His interaction with humanity. It underscores the importance of purity, holiness, and sincere worship, as well as the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice, which enables believers to live lives that are pleasing to God.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ODOR

o'-der: In the Old Testament the rendering of besem, "fragrance" (2 Chronicles 16:14 Esther 2:12 Jeremiah 34:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "burnings"), and of one or two other words; in the New Testament of osme (John 12:3 Philippians 4:18 Ephesians 5:2 the Revised Version (British and American)); in Revelation 5:8; Revelation 18:13, of thumiama, where the Revised Version (British and American) (with the King James Version margin in former passage) has "incense."

See also SAVOR.

Greek

3744. osme -- a smell
... a smell. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: osme Phonetic Spelling:
(os-may') Short Definition: an odor Definition: a smell, odor, savor. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3744.htm - 6k

3605. ozo -- to (emit a) smell
... to smell, stink. A primary verb (in a strengthened form); to scent (usually an ill
"odor"): stink. (ozei) -- 1 Occurrence. 3604, 3605. ozo. 3606 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3605.htm - 6k

946. bdelugma -- a detestable thing
... 946 (from 948 , derived from , "to reek with stench") -- properly, what emits a
foul odor and hence is (); (figuratively) as a (like when people refuse to hear ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/946.htm - 7k

2368. thumiama -- incense
... incense Definition: incense. Word Origin from thumiao Definition incense
NASB Word Usage incense (6). incense, odor. From thumiao; an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2368.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7381. reyach -- to smell, perceive odor
... to smell, perceive odor. Transliteration: reyach Phonetic Spelling: (ray'-akh) Short
Definition: savour. ... From ruwach; odor (as if blown) -- savour, scent, smell. ...
/hebrew/7381.htm - 5k

6282b. athar -- an odor
... athar. 6283 . an odor. Transliteration: athar Short Definition: fragrance. Word
Origin of uncertain derivation Definition an odor NASB Word Usage fragrance (1 ...
/hebrew/6282b.htm - 5k

7381a. riach -- to smell, perceive odor
... 7381, 7381a. riach. 7381b . to smell, perceive odor. Transliteration:
riach Short Definition: smell. Word Origin denominative verb ...
/hebrew/7381a.htm - 5k

7004. qetoreth -- smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense
... 7003, 7004. qetoreth. 7005 . smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense.
Transliteration: qetoreth Phonetic Spelling: (ket-o'-reth) Short Definition: incense ...
/hebrew/7004.htm - 6k

7381b. reach -- scent, odor
... 7381a, 7381b. reach. 7382 . scent, odor. Transliteration: reach Short
Definition: aroma. Word Origin from the same as ruach Definition ...
/hebrew/7381b.htm - 5k

7762. shuwm -- garlic
... garlic From an unused root meaning to exhale; garlic (from its rank odor) --
garlic. 7761, 7762. shuwm. 7762a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7762.htm - 5k

1314. bosem -- spice, balsam, the balsam tree
... smell, spice, sweet odor. Or bosem {bo'-sem}; from the same as basam; fragrance;
by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant -- smell, spice, sweet (odour). ...
/hebrew/1314.htm - 6k

5208. nichoach -- soothing, tranquilizing
... sweet odor, savor. (Aramaic) or (shorter) niychoach (Aramaic) {nee-kho'-akh};
corresponding to nichowach; pleasure -- sweet odour (savour). see HEBREW nichowach ...
/hebrew/5208.htm - 6k

5042. naba -- to flow, spring, bubble up
... A primitive root; to gush forth; figuratively, to utter (good or bad words);
specifically, to emit (a foul odor) -- belch out, flowing, pour out, send forth ...
/hebrew/5042.htm - 6k

Library

Draw Me, we Will Run after Thee to the Odor of Thine Ointments.
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. 3. Draw me, we will run after thee to the odor of thine
ointments. ... We will even outrun this odor to reach Thee, the centre of our bliss. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/3 draw me we will.htm

Whether Chrism is a Fitting Matter for this Sacrament?
... And balm is mixed with the oil, by reason of its fragrant odor, which spreads about:
hence the Apostle says (2:Cor.2:15): "We are the good odor of Christ," etc ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether chrism is a fitting.htm

Whether the Actions Performed in Celebrating this Sacrament are ...
... It has reference to two things: first, to the reverence due to this sacrament, ie
in order by its good odor, to remove any disagreeable smell that may be about ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the actions performed in.htm

Since These Things are So, Suffer Me Awhile...
... O servants of God, soldiers of Christ, is it thus ye dissemble the plottings of
our most crafty foe, who fearing your good fame, that so goodly odor of Christ ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 36 since these things.htm

The Precious Ointment.
... We, as Christian, are a sweet odor unto God in Christ Jesus. ... The things the saints
at Philippi sent to Paul were an odor of a sweet smell to God. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/the precious ointment.htm

Chapter twenty-eight
... A strong odor of beer floated up to Burns as he stood on the steps. ... The child went
by on the sidewalk just below him, and the odor of the beer came up to him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-eight.htm

Ephesians iv. 32 and v. 1, 2
... of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and
gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a ...
/.../homily xvii ephesians iv 32.htm

Whether in the Blessed, after the Resurrection, all the Senses ...
... But this opinion cannot be true; which is evident from the fact that vultures hasten
to a corpse on perceiving the odor from a very great distance, whereas it ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the blessed after.htm

John Chapter xi. 55-57; xii
... pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and
wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate l john chapter xi.htm

If this Queen Ye See Not, Now Rich Also with Royal Progeny. If She ...
... as "in fringes of gold, and raiment of divers colors." If there be not, now that
His fame is spread abroad in every place by His good odor, virgins also ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /6 if this queen ye.htm

Thesaurus

Odor (46 Occurrences)
... (n.) Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive; scent; perfume. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. ODOR. ... Multi-Version Concordance Odor (46 Occurrences). ...
/o/odor.htm - 22k

Perfume (202 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling
substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma. 3. (n ...
/p/perfume.htm - 38k

Savor (51 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) That property of a thing which affects the organs of taste or smell; taste
and odor; flavor; relish; scent; as, the savor of an orange or a rose; an ...
/s/savor.htm - 28k

Perfumer (4 Occurrences)
... on the perfume. Its odor is similar to that of the incense used today,
and it perfumes the whole case where it is kept. The above ...
/p/perfumer.htm - 11k

Scent (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as
a hound does. 2. (vt) To imbue or fill with odor; to perfume. ...
/s/scent.htm - 10k

Stench (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To stanch. 2. (n.) A smell; an odor. 3. (n.) An ill smell; an offensive
odor; a stink. 4. (n.) To cause to emit a disagreeable odor; to cause to stink. ...
/s/stench.htm - 10k

Smell (77 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) To give heed to. 4. (vi) To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor
or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk. ...
/s/smell.htm - 34k

Fragrant (30 Occurrences)
... 5:2 And live and act lovingly, as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up to death
on our behalf as an offering and sacrifice to God, yielding a fragrant odor...
/f/fragrant.htm - 16k

Odorous (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Emitting a sweet odor or scent; fragrant;
sweet-smelling. Multi-Version Concordance Odorous (1 Occurrence). ...
/o/odorous.htm - 6k

Offensive (15 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth
an offensive odor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom ...
/o/offensive.htm - 11k

Resources

What is transubstantiation? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of anointing spices in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about aromatherapy? | GotQuestions.org

Odor: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Odor (46 Occurrences)

John 11:39
Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
(See RSV NIV)

John 12:3
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
(ASV WBS)

2 Corinthians 2:16
to the last-named an odor of death predictive of death, and to the others an odor of life predictive of life. And for such service as this who is competent?
(WEY)

Ephesians 5:2
And live and act lovingly, as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up to death on our behalf as an offering and sacrifice to God, yielding a fragrant odor.
(WEY ASV)

Philippians 4:18
I have enough of everything--and more than enough. My wants are fully satisfied now that I have received from the hands of Epaphroditus the generous gifts which you sent me--they are a fragrant odor, an acceptable sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.
(WEY ASV WBS)

Genesis 8:21
Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again strike everything living, as I have done.
(See RSV)

Exodus 29:18
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Exodus 29:25
You shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on the burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma before Yahweh: it is an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Exodus 29:41
The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning, and according to its drink offering, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 1:9
but its innards and its legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 1:17
He shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it apart. The priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 2:2
He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests; and he shall take his handful of its fine flour, and of its oil, with all its frankincense; and the priest shall burn its memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 2:9
The priest shall take from the meal offering its memorial, and shall burn it on the altar, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 2:12
As an offering of firstfruits you shall offer them to Yahweh: but they shall not ascend for a pleasant aroma on the altar.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 3:5
Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 3:16
The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is Yahweh's.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 4:31
All its fat he shall take away, like the fat is taken away from off of the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 6:15
He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial, to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 6:21
It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 8:21
He washed the innards and the legs with water; and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 8:28
Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 17:6
The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 23:13
The meal offering with it shall be two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 23:18
You shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their meal offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 15:3
and will make an offering by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, of the herd, or of the flock;
(See RSV)

Numbers 15:7
and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 15:10
and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 15:13
"'All who are native-born shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 15:14
If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; as you do, so he shall do.
(See RSV)

Numbers 15:24
then it shall be, if it be done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, with the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering.
(See RSV)

Numbers 18:17
"But you shall not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 28:2
"Command the children of Israel, and tell them,'My offering, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to me, you shall observe to offer to me in their due season.'
(See RSV)

Numbers 28:6
It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 28:8
The other lamb you shall offer at evening: as the meal offering of the morning, and as the drink offering of it, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 28:13
and a tenth part of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering to every lamb; for a burnt offering of a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 28:27
but you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old;
(See RSV)

Numbers 29:2
You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
(See RSV)

Numbers 29:6
besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and the meal offering of it, and the continual burnt offering and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Numbers 29:8
but you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without blemish;
(See RSV)

Numbers 29:13
and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;
(See RSV)

Ecclesiastes 10:1
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Isaiah 3:24
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be an offensive odor; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 6:13
You shall know that I am Yahweh, when their slain men shall be among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the places where they offered pleasant aroma to all their idols.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 8:11
There stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand; and the odor of the cloud of incense went up.
(WEB ASV)

Ezekiel 16:19
My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you even set it before them for a pleasant aroma; and thus it was, says the Lord Yahweh.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 20:41
As a pleasant aroma will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Odor

Related Terms

Odors (8 Occurrences)

Frankincense (22 Occurrences)

Fragrant (30 Occurrences)

Apothecaries (2 Occurrences)

Sepulchres (17 Occurrences)

Odor (46 Occurrences)

Divers (36 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)