Proverbs 7:17
New International Version
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

New Living Translation
I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

English Standard Version
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Berean Standard Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.

King James Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

New King James Version
I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

New American Standard Bible
“I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

NASB 1995
“I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

NASB 1977
“I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

Legacy Standard Bible
I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Amplified Bible
“I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Christian Standard Bible
I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

American Standard Version
I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Contemporary English Version
And I have covered it with perfume made of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

English Revised Version
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I've sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Good News Translation
I've perfumed it with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

International Standard Version
I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Majority Standard Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.

NET Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

New Heart English Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

World English Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I sprinkled my bed [with] myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Young's Literal Translation
I sprinkled my bed -- myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Smith's Literal Translation
I sprinkled my bed with myrrh and aloes and cinnamon.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon.

New American Bible
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.

New Revised Standard Version
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have sprinkled myrrh on my bed and saffron crocus and cinnamon.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warnings about the Adulteress
16I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. 18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!…

Cross References
Song of Solomon 4:14
with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.

Psalm 45:8
All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad.

Ezekiel 23:41
You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil,

Amos 6:6
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

Isaiah 57:9
You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.

Revelation 18:13
of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

Luke 7:37-38
When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. / As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Matthew 26:7-12
a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. / When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? / This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.” ...

Mark 14:3-8
While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head. / Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume? / It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. ...

2 Corinthians 2:14-16
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. / To the one we are an odor that brings death, to the other a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?

Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

Philippians 4:18
I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

Exodus 30:23-25
“Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, / 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. / Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.

Exodus 30:34-38
The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures, / and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. / Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. ...


Treasury of Scripture

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

perfumed

Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Isaiah 57:7-9
Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice…

with

Psalm 45:8
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Song of Solomon 4:13,14
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, …

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Proverbs 7
1. Solomon persuades to a sincere and kind familiarity with wisdom
6. In an example of his own experience he shows
10. the cunning of a harlot
22. and the desperate simplicity of a young wanton
24. He detests such wickedness














I have perfumed my bed
In ancient times, perfuming a bed was a sign of luxury and indulgence. The act of perfuming the bed suggests an intention to create an alluring and seductive atmosphere. This phrase highlights the seductive nature of the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7, who uses sensory pleasures to entice her victim. The use of perfumes in the Bible often symbolizes preparation and intention, as seen in Esther 2:12, where Esther undergoes beauty treatments before meeting the king. The bed, a place meant for rest and intimacy within marriage, is here misused for illicit purposes, reflecting the perversion of what God intended for good.

with myrrh
Myrrh is a resin used in ancient times for its fragrance and medicinal properties. It was one of the gifts brought by the Magi to Jesus (Matthew 2:11), symbolizing His future suffering and death, as myrrh was also used in embalming. In the context of Proverbs 7, myrrh's use underscores the woman's attempt to create an enticing environment. Myrrh's association with burial and sacrifice contrasts with the temporary pleasure she offers, hinting at the spiritual death that follows sin.

with aloes
Aloes, derived from the aloe plant, were used in ancient perfumery and embalming. In John 19:39, Nicodemus brings a mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' body for burial, symbolizing honor and respect. Here, the use of aloes in perfuming the bed is part of the seduction, offering a false sense of honor and allure. The contrast between its use in honoring Christ and in this context of seduction highlights the misuse of what is valuable and sacred.

and with cinnamon
Cinnamon was a highly prized spice in the ancient world, used for its fragrance and flavor. It was part of the holy anointing oil described in Exodus 30:23, signifying its sacred use in worship and consecration. In Proverbs 7, cinnamon's inclusion in the perfuming of the bed further illustrates the woman's attempt to create an irresistible allure. The misuse of a spice associated with holiness and worship for seduction underscores the perversion of sacred things for sinful purposes. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the corruption of what God has made good.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Seductress
The speaker in this verse is a woman who represents temptation and immorality. She uses sensual and enticing language to lure a young man into sin.

2. The Young Man
The target of the seductress's advances, representing those who are naive or lacking in wisdom and discernment.

3. The Setting
The context of this verse is a private, intimate setting where the seductress has prepared her bed with luxurious fragrances to entice her victim.
Teaching Points
The Power of Sensual Temptation
The use of fragrances like myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon highlights the seductive power of sensory experiences. Believers must be vigilant against such temptations that appeal to the senses but lead to sin.

The Deceptive Nature of Sin
Sin often presents itself in an attractive and appealing manner, masking its true destructive nature. Christians should seek wisdom and discernment to see beyond the surface allure.

Guarding the Heart and Mind
Proverbs 4:23 advises believers to guard their hearts, as it is the wellspring of life. This involves being cautious about what we allow to influence our thoughts and desires.

The Importance of Wisdom and Discernment
The young man in Proverbs 7 lacks wisdom, making him susceptible to temptation. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom through prayer, scripture, and godly counsel.

The Role of Accountability
Having accountability partners can help believers resist temptation. Sharing struggles with trusted friends or mentors can provide support and encouragement to stay on the right path.Verse 17. - I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. The substances mentioned were dissolved in or mixed with water, and then sprinkled on the couch. The love of such things is reckoned as a sign of luxury and vice (Isaiah 3:20, etc.). The three perfumes are mentioned together in Song of Solomon 4:14; "myrrh, aloes, and cassia," in Psalm 45:8. Septuagint, "I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon." Myrrh is nowadays imported chiefly from Bombay, but it seems to be found in Arabia and on the coasts of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. It is a gummy substance exuding from the bark of the balsamodendron when wounded, and possessing an aromatic odour not particularly agreeable to modern tastes. It was one of the ingredients of the holy oil (Exodus 30:28), and was used in the purification of women (Esther 2:12), as well as in perfuming persons and things, and, mixed with aloes, in embalming dead bodies (John 19:39). Aloes is the inspissated juice of the leaves of the aloe, a leguminous plant growing in India, Cochin China, Abyssinia, and Socotra. The ancients used the dried root for aromatic purposes. It is mentioned by Balaam (Numbers 24:6). Cinnamon, which is the same word in Hebrew and Greek, is the fragrant bark of a tree growing in Ceylon and India and the east coast of Africa.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I have perfumed
נַ֥פְתִּי (nap̄·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5130: To move to and fro, wave, sprinkle

my bed
מִשְׁכָּבִ֑י (miš·kā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4904: Place of lying, a couch, act of lying

with myrrh,
מֹ֥ר (mōr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4753: Myrrh

with aloes,
אֲ֝הָלִ֗ים (’ă·hā·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 174: The aloe (a tree)

and with cinnamon.
וְקִנָּמֽוֹן׃ (wə·qin·nā·mō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7076: Cinnamon bark


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 7:16
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