In biblical times, perfumes and fragrant oils played a significant role in daily life, religious practices, and ceremonial rituals. The use of perfumes is mentioned throughout the Scriptures, highlighting their importance in both sacred and secular contexts.

Biblical References and Uses

Perfumes were often made from a variety of natural ingredients, including spices, resins, and oils. The art of perfumery was well-developed in ancient Israel and surrounding regions. One of the earliest mentions of perfumed substances is found in the account of Joseph, where traders carried "spices, balm, and myrrh" (Genesis 37:25) as they traveled to Egypt.

In the religious sphere, perfumed oils were integral to the anointing process. The Lord commanded Moses to create a sacred anointing oil, a blend of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil, to consecrate the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 30:22-25). This anointing oil was considered holy, and its use was restricted to specific religious purposes.

Perfumes also played a role in personal grooming and social customs. In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is described as having a fragrance like "the scent of Lebanon" (Song of Solomon 4:11), illustrating the use of perfumes in romantic and intimate settings. Additionally, Esther underwent a year-long beauty treatment with "oil of myrrh and with perfumes and cosmetics" before meeting King Xerxes (Esther 2:12).

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Perfumes in the Bible often symbolize purity, holiness, and divine favor. The sweet-smelling incense offered in the Tabernacle and Temple represented the prayers of the people ascending to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8). The use of fragrant oils in anointing signified the setting apart of individuals for God's service, as seen in the anointing of kings and priests.

The New Testament also references the use of perfumes in acts of devotion. Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus' feet with "a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume" (John 12:3), an act that Jesus commended as preparation for His burial. This event underscores the use of perfumes as expressions of love and worship.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, perfumes were highly valued and often associated with wealth and status. The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon included gifts of spices and precious stones, indicating the high esteem in which such items were held (1 Kings 10:2). Perfumes were also used in burial practices, as seen in the preparation of Jesus' body with spices and ointments (John 19:39-40).

The production and trade of perfumes were significant economic activities in biblical times. The region of Gilead was known for its balm, a resinous substance used in perfumes and medicines (Jeremiah 8:22). The trade routes that passed through Israel facilitated the exchange of aromatic goods, contributing to the cultural and commercial interactions of the ancient world.

Conclusion

The use of perfumes in the Bible reflects their multifaceted role in ancient society, encompassing religious, social, and economic dimensions. As symbols of beauty, sanctity, and devotion, perfumes continue to evoke the rich spiritual heritage of the biblical narrative.(imp. & p. p.) of Perfume.3462. murizo -- to anoint
... Word Origin from muron Definition to anoint NASB Word Usage anointed (1). anoint.
From muron; to apply (perfumed) unguent to -- anoint. see GREEK muron. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3462.htm - 6k

211. alabastron -- a box of alabaster
... alabastron Phonetic Spelling: (al-ab'-as-tron) Short Definition: an alabaster phial
or bottle Definition: a phial or bottle of perfumed ointment, usually of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/211.htm - 6k

3464. muron -- ointment
... ointment. Probably of foreign origin (compare more, smurna); "myrrh", ie (by
implication) perfumed oil -- ointment. see HEBREW more. see GREEK smurna. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3464.htm - 7k

6989. Qeturah -- a wife of Abraham
... Keturah. Feminine passive participle of qatar; perfumed; Keturah, a wife of Abraham --
Keturah. see HEBREW qatar. 6988, 6989. Qeturah. 6990 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6989.htm - 6k

8081. shemen -- fat, oil
... From shaman; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed);
figuratively, richness -- anointing, X fat (things), X fruitful, oil((-ed ...
/hebrew/8081.htm - 6k

6999. qatar -- to make sacrifices smoke
... offered up in smoke (2), offered incense (1), offered sacrifices (1), offered*
(1), offering up in smoke (1), offering up sacrifices (1), perfumed (1), smoke ( ...
/hebrew/6999.htm - 6k

Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... Prayer Perfumed with Praise. A Sermon (No.1469). Delivered on Lord's-Day Morning,
April 20th, 1879, by. CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/prayer perfumed with praise.htm

The Joy of Unbroken Communion
... Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,. Perfumed
with myrrh and frankincense,. With all powders of the merchant? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/union and communion/section iii the joy of.htm

Of Two Other Degrees of Greater Perfection, by which we May Love ...
... things. If it be only Esther that Assuerus loves, why should he love her
more when perfumed and adorned, than in her ordinary attire? ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v of two other.htm

That the Love of God's Will Signified in the Commandments Moves us ...
... of her divine lover's perfumes: Thy name, says she unto him, is as oil poured out:
[369] as though she said: thou art so excellently perfumed, that thou ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii that the love.htm

The Royal Pair in their Glorious Chariot
... "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed
with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the royal pair in their.htm

Adam's Sin
... Curse God and die.' Job 2:2. Agrippina poisoned the Emperor Commodus, with wine
in a perfumed cup; the cup being perfumed and given him by his wife it was the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 adams sin.htm

The Life of Mr. John Dickson.
... great truths were in the mouths of all our worthies, when mounting their bloody
theatres and scaffolds, ascending as it were up unto God in a perfumed cloud of ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr john 13.htm

A Bundle of Myrrh
... rarity and excellence. Myrrh, again, was pleasant. It was a pleasant thing
to be in chamber perfumed with myrrh. Through the nostrils ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/a bundle of myrrh.htm

Joy
... Such as crown themselves with rosebuds, and bathe in the perfumed waters of pleasure,
may have joys which seem to be sweet but they are swift: they are like ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 joy.htm

A Supplementary Chapter to the Bible in Spain
... tobacco whilst lolling on the sofa, till the time arrived for dressing and strolling
forth to the prado"a thorough Spanish coxcomb highly perfumed, who wrote ...
/.../a supplementary chapter to the.htm

Perfumed (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Perfumed (10 Occurrences). Mark 14:8 What she could she
did: she has perfumed my body in preparation for my burial. (WEY). ...
/p/perfumed.htm - 9k

Perfume (202 Occurrences)
... lands. Perfumed oils were rubbed on the body and feet. ... censers. In the preparation
of bodies for burial, perfumed oils and spices were used. ...
/p/perfume.htm - 38k

Perfumer (4 Occurrences)
... lands. Perfumed oils were rubbed on the body and feet. ... censers. In the preparation
of bodies for burial, perfumed oils and spices were used. ...
/p/perfumer.htm - 11k

Dry (217 Occurrences)
... John 11:2 (The Mary whose brother Lazarus was ill, was the Mary who put perfumed
oil on the Lord and made his feet dry with her hair.) (ASV). ...
/d/dry.htm - 37k

Anoint (59 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The practice of anointing with perfumed oil was
common among the Hebrews. (1.) The act of anointing was ...
/a/anoint.htm - 31k

Myrrh (22 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 7:17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/m/myrrh.htm - 18k

Oil (281 Occurrences)
... John 11:2 (The Mary whose brother Lazarus was ill, was the Mary who put perfumed
oil on the Lord and made his feet dry with her hair.) (ASV). ...
/o/oil.htm - 60k

Value (138 Occurrences)
... John 12:3 Then Mary, taking a pound of perfumed oil of great value, put it on the
feet of Jesus and made them dry with her hair: and the house became full of ...
/v/value.htm - 37k

Ointment (29 Occurrences)
... the King James Version in frequent instances translates shemen or meshach (see Exodus
30:25) "ointment" where a perfumed oil seemed to be indicated. ...
/o/ointment.htm - 18k

Graves (37 Occurrences)
... himself in the city of David, and they cause him to lie on a bed that 'one' hath
filled 'with' spices, and divers kinds of mixtures, with perfumed work; and ...
/g/graves.htm - 19k

What is an alabaster box? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Martha in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Perfumed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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