Spikenard, also known simply as nard, is a fragrant plant mentioned in the Bible, known for its aromatic oil. It is derived from the Nardostachys jatamansi plant, which is native to the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal. The oil extracted from spikenard was highly valued in ancient times for its fragrance and medicinal properties, making it a luxury item often associated with wealth and opulence.

Biblical References:

1. Song of Solomon 1:12 : "While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance." In this poetic book, spikenard is used as a symbol of love and intimacy. The bride's use of spikenard signifies her devotion and the preciousness of her love for the bridegroom.

2. Mark 14:3 : "While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on His head." This passage highlights the anointing of Jesus by a woman, traditionally identified as Mary of Bethany. The use of spikenard in this context underscores the woman's act of worship and sacrifice, as she offers something of great value to honor Jesus.

3. John 12:3 : "Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." This account further emphasizes the significance of spikenard in the anointing of Jesus, illustrating the depth of Mary's devotion and the prophetic nature of her act, foreshadowing Jesus' burial.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient world, spikenard was a costly and rare commodity, often imported from distant lands. Its value was comparable to that of gold, and it was typically stored in alabaster jars to preserve its fragrance. The use of spikenard in anointing rituals was not only a sign of respect and honor but also carried spiritual significance, symbolizing purity and the consecration of individuals or objects for divine purposes.

Symbolism and Theological Significance:

Spikenard's presence in the biblical narrative serves as a powerful symbol of devotion, sacrifice, and the recognition of Jesus' divine identity. The lavish use of spikenard by Mary in the Gospels is a testament to her understanding of Jesus' mission and her willingness to give generously in response to His love and grace. This act of anointing also prefigures Jesus' death and burial, highlighting the connection between His sacrificial love and the believer's response of worship and adoration.

In summary, spikenard in the Bible is more than just a fragrant oil; it is a profound emblem of love, sacrifice, and the acknowledgment of Jesus' lordship. Its use in key biblical events underscores the depth of devotion and the eternal significance of Christ's redemptive work.Spikenard

(Heb. nerd) is mentioned twice in the Old Testament viz. in (Solomon 1:12; 4:13,14) The ointment with which our Lord was anointed as he sat at meat in Simon's house at Bethany consisted of this precious substance, the costliness of which may be inferred from the indignant surprise manifested by some of the witnesses of the transaction. See (Mark 14:3-5; John 12:3,5) (Spikenard,from which the ointment was made, was an aromatic herb of the valerian family (Nardostachys jatamansi). It was imported from an early age from Arabia India and the Far East. The costliness of Mary's offering (300 pence=) may beat be seen from the fact that a penny (denarius, 15 to 17 cents) was in those days the day-wages of a laborer. (Matthew 20:2) In our day this would equal at least or .-ED.)

Spikenard

So 1:12 4:13,14, a highly perfumed ointment prepared from a plant in India growing in short spikes. It was highly prized by the ancients, and was a favorite perfume at their baths and banquets. Horace represents a small box of it as equivalent to a large vessel of wine, and as a handsome quota for a guest to contribute to an entertainment. It was kept closely sealed, sometimes in alabaster boxes; and to unseal and open it was called breaking the box, Mark 14:3. The evangelists speak of it as diffusing a rich perfume; and as "precious," and "very costly," a pound of it being worth more than three hundred denarii, or over forty dollars, John 12:3-5. See ALABASTER and PENNY.

(Hebrews nerd), a much-valued perfume (Cant. 1:12; 4:13, 14). It was "very precious", i.e., very costly (Mark 14:3; John 12:3, 5). It is the root of an Indian plant, the Nardostachys jatamansi, of the family of Valeriance, growing on the Himalaya mountains. It is distinguished by its having many hairy spikes shooting out from one root. It is called by the Arabs sunbul Hindi, "the Indian spike." In the New Testament this word is the rendering of the Greek nardos pistike. The margin of the Revised Version in these passages has "pistic nard," pistic being perhaps a local name. Some take it to mean genuine, and others liquid. The most probable opinion is that the word pistike designates the nard as genuine or faithfully prepared. 1. (n.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.

2. (n.) A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi.

SPIKENARD

spik'-nard (nerd; nardos (Songs 1:12; Songs 4:14); neradhim; nardoi (Songs 4:13), "spikenard plants"; nardos pistike (Mark 14:3 John 12:3), "pure nard," margin "liquid nard"; the English word is for "spiked nard," which comes from the Nardus spicatus of the Vulgate): Spikenard is the plant Nardostachys jatamansi (Natural Order, Valerianaceae); in Arabic the name Sunbul hind, "Indian spike," refers, like the English and Latin name, to the "snike"-like shape of the plant from which the perfume comes. The dried plant as sold consists of the "withered stalks and ribs of leaves cohering in a bundle of yellowish-brown capillary fibres and consisting of a spike about the size of a small finger" (Sir W. Jones, As. Res., II, 409); in appearance the whole plant is said to look like the tail of an ermine. It grows in the Himalayas. The extracted perfume is an oil, which was used by the Romans for anointing the head. Its great costliness is mentioned by Pliny.

With regard to the exact meaning of the pistike, in the New Testament, there is much difference of opinion: "pure" and "liquid" are both given in margin, but it has also been suggested among other things that this was a local name, that it comes from the Latin spicita or from pisita, the Sanskrit name of the spikenard plant. The question is an open one: either "genuine" or "pure" is favored by most commentators.

E. W. G. Masterman

3487. nardos -- nard, ointment of nard
... nard, ointment of nard. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: nardos Phonetic
Spelling: (nar'dos) Short Definition: spikenard, a perfume Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3487.htm - 6k5373. nerd -- nard
... plants (1), perfume (1). spikenard. Of foreign origin; nard, an aromatic --
spikenard. 5372, 5373. nerd. 5374 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5373.htm - 5k

Spikenard and Saffron; Calamus and Cinnamon with all the Trees of ...
... CHAPTER IV. 14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with all the trees
of Lebanon; myrrh and aloes with all the chief ointments. ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/14 spikenard and saffron calamus.htm

While the King was Reclining Upon his Couch, My Spikenard Sent ...
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. 11. While the King was reclining upon his couch,
my spikenard sent forth the smell thereof. The Spouse is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/11 while the king was.htm

Thy Plants are a Paradise of Pomegranates, with the Fruits of the ...
... CHAPTER IV. 13. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates, with the fruits
of the orchard; cypress with spikenard. Thy fertility ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/13 thy plants are a.htm

Fragrant Graces
... At the [12]Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "While the king sitteth at his table,
my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.""Canticles 1:12. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/fragrant graces.htm

The Precious Ointment.
... In the Bible we learn of a woman who took "a pound of ointment of spikenard, very
costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus." This spikenard was very rich in ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/the precious ointment.htm

Chapter iv.
... 13. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphor
with spikenard; 13. Thy ... Cypress with spikenard.14. Spikenard ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/chapter iv.htm

The Box of Ointment.
... Some fragrant ointment of spikenard"contained, as we gather from the other Evangelists,
in a box of Alabaster"had been procured by her at great cost;[22 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xvii the box of ointment.htm

Song of Songs of Solomon
... 10. We will make thee chains of gold inlaid with silver. 11. While the King was
reclining upon his couch, my spikenard sent forth the smell thereof. 12. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/

"She Hath done what She Could. "
... And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came
a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter vii she hath done.htm

Chapter i
... We will make thee chains of gold inlaid with silver.12. While the King sitteth
at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.11. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/chapter i.htm

Spikenard (4 Occurrences)
... The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the
Himalayan region. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SPIKENARD. ...
/s/spikenard.htm - 10k

Nard (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An ointment prepared partly from this plant. See Spikenard. ... NARD. nard.
See SPIKENARD. Multi-Version Concordance Nard (5 Occurrences). ...
/n/nard.htm - 8k

Orchard (3 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Song of Songs 4:13 Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious
fruits: henna with spikenard plants, (WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/orchard.htm - 8k

Odour (43 Occurrences)
... John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed
the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was ...
/o/odour.htm - 20k

Opportunity (35 Occurrences)
... John 12:3 Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure
spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with ...
/o/opportunity.htm - 17k

Weight (143 Occurrences)
... John 12:3 Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure
spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with ...
/w/weight.htm - 43k

Finest (23 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:14 Spikenard and safron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of
frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. (See NAS NIV). ...
/f/finest.htm - 12k

Reclining (25 Occurrences)
... in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, at his reclining (at meat), there came
a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, of spikenard, very precious ...
/r/reclining.htm - 14k

Pomegranates (20 Occurrences)
... Song of Songs 4:13 Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits:
henna with spikenard plants, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/pomegranates.htm - 13k

Poured (155 Occurrences)
... John 12:3 Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure
spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with ...
/p/poured.htm - 37k

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