Spicery in the Bible refers to a variety of aromatic substances, including spices, perfumes, and incense, which were highly valued in ancient times for their fragrance, medicinal properties, and use in religious rituals. The term "spicery" encompasses a range of products derived from plants, such as myrrh, frankincense, cinnamon, and other aromatic gums and resins.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 37:25 · The earliest mention of spicery in the Bible occurs in the account of Joseph. As Joseph's brothers plotted against him, a caravan of Ishmaelites passed by, "coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to take them down to Egypt" . This passage highlights the trade routes and the economic importance of spicery in the ancient Near East.

2. 1 Kings 10:2, 10 · The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon is another significant mention of spicery. She brought "a very great caravan, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones" . The Queen of Sheba's gift of spices to Solomon underscores the value and prestige associated with these aromatic substances.

3. Song of Solomon 4:14 · In the poetic and romantic language of the Song of Solomon, spicery is used metaphorically to describe the beloved's beauty and allure: "nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices" . This imagery reflects the luxurious and desirable nature of spicery.

4. Ezekiel 27:22 · The prophet Ezekiel, in his lament over the city of Tyre, lists spicery among the goods traded by the merchants of Sheba and Raamah: "They exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and all precious stones and gold for your wares" . This passage illustrates the extensive trade networks and the demand for spicery in the ancient world.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Spicery held a prominent place in the cultural and religious practices of the Israelites and their neighbors. Spices were used in the preparation of anointing oils and incense for worship in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Exodus 30:23-25 provides specific instructions for making the sacred anointing oil, which included myrrh, cinnamon, and other spices.

The use of spicery in burial practices is also noted in the New Testament. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds, to anoint Jesus' body, as recorded in John 19:39-40. This act of devotion highlights the continued importance of spicery in Jewish customs.

Economic Impact:

The trade of spicery was a significant economic activity in the ancient world. The demand for these aromatic substances facilitated the development of trade routes connecting distant regions, such as Arabia, India, and Africa, with the Mediterranean world. The wealth generated from the spicery trade contributed to the prosperity of cities and kingdoms, as evidenced by the wealth of Solomon and the merchants of Tyre.

In summary, spicery in the Bible represents not only a collection of valuable and aromatic substances but also a symbol of wealth, trade, and religious devotion. Its presence in biblical narratives underscores its multifaceted role in the ancient world.Hebrews nechoth, identified with the Arabic naka'at, the gum tragacanth, obtained from the astralagus, of which there are about twenty species found in Palestine. The tragacanth of commerce is obtained from the A. tragacantha. "The gum exudes plentifully under the heat of the sun on the leaves, thorns, and exteremity of the twigs." 1. (n.) Spices, in general.

2. (n.) A repository of spices.

7544. reqach -- spice
... spiced. From raqach; properly, perfumery, ie (by implication) spicery (for flavor) --
spiced. see HEBREW raqach. 7543, 7544. reqach. 7545 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/7544.htm - 6k

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

5219. nekoth -- (a spice) perhaps tragacanth gum
... spices. From nake'; properly, a smiting, ie (concretely) an aromatic gum (perhaps
styrax) (as powdered) -- spicery(-ces). see HEBREW nake'. 5218b, 5219. ...
/hebrew/5219.htm - 6k

5238. nekoth -- treasure
... precious things. Probably for nko'th; spicery, ie (generally) valuables -- precious
things. see HEBREW nko'th. 5237, 5238. nekoth. 5239 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5238.htm - 6k

4841. merqachah -- an ointment pot
... Feminine of merqach; abstractly, a seasoning (with spicery); concretely, an
unguent-kettle (for preparing spiced oil) -- pot of ointment, X well. ...
/hebrew/4841.htm - 6k

Man's Passions and God's Purpose
... down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company
of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/mans passions and gods purpose.htm

Joseph and his Brethren
... bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a travelling company
of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/i joseph and his brethren.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... Sheba, the Saba of classical antiquity, was an important kingdom of south-western
Arabia, which had grown wealthy through its trade in spicery. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Useful Phrases
... oratorical display. ordinary delinquencies. organic assimilation. oriental spicery.
originally promulgated. oscillatory movement. ostensible occupation. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... which already weighed upon the people by a further demand for ten gold minas, one
thousand precious stones, fifty camels, and a thousand measures of spicery. ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

Spicery (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) Spices, in general. 2. (n.) A repository
of spices. Multi-Version Concordance Spicery (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/spicery.htm - 7k

Spice (25 Occurrences)
... 37:29; Exodus 40:27 2 Chronicles 2:4, we have qsToreth cammim, "incense of sweet
spices." (3) (nekho'th; thumiamata (Genesis 37:25, "spicery," margin "gum ...
/s/spice.htm - 18k

Spices (64 Occurrences)
... 37:29; Exodus 40:27 2 Chronicles 2:4, we have qsToreth cammim, "incense of sweet
spices." (3) (nekho'th; thumiamata (Genesis 37:25, "spicery," margin "gum ...
/s/spices.htm - 32k

Ish'maelites (6 Occurrences)
... down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan
of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm ...
/i/ish'maelites.htm - 8k

Tragacanth (2 Occurrences)
... TRAGACANTH. trag'-a-kanth: For "spicery" in Genesis 37:25, the Revised Version
margin gives "gum tragacanth or storax." See SPICE; STORAX. ...
/t/tragacanth.htm - 8k

Midian (60 Occurrences)
... The Midianites next appear as merchantmen traveling from Gilead to Egypt, with
"spicery and balm and myrrh," with no prejudice against a turn of slave-dealing ...
/m/midian.htm - 32k

Midianites (30 Occurrences)
... The Midianites next appear as merchantmen traveling from Gilead to Egypt, with
"spicery and balm and myrrh," with no prejudice against a turn of slave-dealing ...
/m/midianites.htm - 21k

Spice-perfume (5 Occurrences)
Spice-perfume. Spice-merchants, Spice-perfume. Spicery . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Spice-merchants, Spice-perfume. Spicery . Reference Bible.
/s/spice-perfume.htm - 8k

Trade (33 Occurrences)
... honey, spicery and myrrh, pistachio-nuts and almonds" (Genesis 43:11 margin; see
the separate articles, and compare "pannag and.... balm" in Ezekiel 27:17). ...
/t/trade.htm - 40k

Gilead (130 Occurrences)
... great extent; but it furnishes ample pasture for many flocks and herds (Songs
6:5). The Ishmaelites from Gilead (Genesis 37:25) were carrying "spicery and balm ...
/g/gilead.htm - 56k

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