Myrrh, a Precious Oil in the Bible

Myrrh is one of the aromatic plants mentioned in the bible. Even though there are many verses about it in the bible, typically, most people only know so little about it. Most people are content just knowing that it is one of the gifts given by wise men to Jesus Christ. But the bible tells more about Myrrh, and it is amazing to discover that some people put some effort to know more about Myrrh and are also aware of what the bible says about it and not just being limited to looking at the usual perception of Myrrh.

When I hear people know so much about Myrrh, I really appreciate that these people take the time to learn about it, even the little details about Myrrh, I realize that maybe these Myrrh Enthusiasts read some literature and articles about Myrrh. When I think about that, I am impressed and touched because it made me realize that maybe they spend time to understand and learn more about Myrrh. I am delighted to realize that they know so much about Myrrh, and impressed whenever I see that they know Myrrh deeply. Some people would not pay attention or take notice of those little details about Myrrh, but I am really glad that there are people who enthusiastically study myrrh and continue to learn about it They seemed to know almost everything about Myrrh, which sometimes makes me think maybe they know Myrrh more than I am aware of. People normally only want to read and learn about the topics they want to learn about a particular subject, but people who are genuinely interested in Myrrh are aware not only of the health benefits of Myrrh but as well as the side effects of using Myrrh and what the bible says about Myrrh. I am grateful that even though they know both the good and side effects of myrrh, they continue to persevere knowing and researching about Myrrh.

In this blog entry, I have presented the different verses in the bible that talk about Myrrh which would allow us to understand Myrrh more deeply.

Used to intoxicate People whom Roman soldiers want to control

The Roman soldiers added myrrh to the wine that would be given to Jesus. (Mark 15:23). It was said that this was a common practice among Roman soldiers during those times for them to endure the discomfort in their routines. (1) Others say that since it is an analgesic and a narcotic, adding it to wine makes the pain bearable. However, according to a paper written in 2005, myrrh does not have a strong analgesic effect. Myrrh is being used to preserve the wine (2) and too much of it in the wine will make it unsuitable for drinking. Hence for someone who’s already suffering from aches due to wounds and thirst giving a wine with myrrh s like torturing the person even more.

Despite the temporary comfort that wine with myrrh can provide to someone thirsty, Jesus refused to drink the wine being offered by the savage and pagan worshipers. For someone who knows that what’s being fed to him might look good but intoxicating and will not do any good to his body and soul, it is just right to refrain from having those things that can be poisonous to us.
“And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.” – Mark 15:23

Used for preserving

Joseph of Arimathaea is a secret disciple of Jesus. Having faith in Jesus, he took the initiative to preserve the body of Jesus by embalming It using myrrh and aloes. (John 19:38-39) As mentioned above myrrh is used to preserve wine, it is also used to preserve the body, hence we can conclude that myrrh is an important ingredient to preserve something.

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came, therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred-pound weight.” – John 19:38-39

A specific ingredient for holy anointing oil and oil of gladness

Myrrh was used to anoint chosen people of God. In Exodus, we can read that the instruction given by God, mentioned specifically pure myrrh as an ingredient to make a holy anointing oil (Exodus 30: 23, 25) and oil of gladness (Psalms 45:7-8). Hence the book of Psalms says that the people anointed by God smell myrrh.

“Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,”
“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be a holy anointing oil.”– Exodus 30: 23, 25
“Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
“All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.” – Psalms 45:7-8

A product worth bringing and transporting

Since myrrh is a valuable product, people are willing to travel and bring myrrh from one place to another. In Genesis, we can see that a Company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead and traveled to Egypt while bringing myrrh with them. (Genesis 37:25)

“And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.” – Genesis 37:25

Considered one of the best gifts you can give to a very important person

Myrrh is a preferred item for gifting. When thinking of giving the best gift to someone special or a very important person, the people in the bible choose myrrh. (Genesis 43:11, Matthew 2:11). Jacob advised his sons to give myrrh to Joseph who was a dignitary in Egypt at that time. (Genesis 43:11) It is also one of the gifts given by the three wise men to Jesus (Matthew 2:11). Knowing that myrrh is not only good for cosmetics but health as well, it deserves to be considered the best gift. I also love to have Myrrh. I honestly think Myrrh is something precious and special.

“And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:” – Genesis 43:11

“And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11

A fragrance used in rooms

Some verses in the bible mentioned that the rooms of some people in the bible smelled perfume. In Proverbs, we can read that a woman uses myrrh to perfume her bed. (Proverbs 7:17) in Song of Solomon, the man smelled the scent of myrrh when he hold the handles of the lock of the door. (Song of Solomon 5:4-5)

“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.” – Proverbs 7:17

“My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.”
“I rose to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.” – Song of Solomon 5:4-5

Part of the preparation regimen before marriage

Before Esther became a queen and a wife to King Ahasuerus, she had to go through the purification process. This is a requirement before seeing the King. This purification process is some sort of beautifying process where a woman shall be dressed, and perfumed with sweet odors. Part of this purification process is applying the oil of myrrh to the body. (Esther 2:12) This purification process is made so the King would be delighted when he sees the woman.

“Now when every maid’s turn was come to go into king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purification of the women;)” – Esther 2:12

Man’s scent

Myrrh is not only used by women. The woman who’s waiting in Songs of Solomon considered his beloved as a bundle of myrrh (Song of Solomon 1:13). The woman recognized his man due to his scent which she said was perfumed with myrrh and frankincense. Moreover, it stayed in the mind of the woman that her spouse smells myrrh. (Song of Solomon 5:13)

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

“A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night between my breasts. – Song of Solomon 1:13

“His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.” – Song of Solomon 5:13

The sweet aroma of married couples

We can see in different verses in the bible that myrrh was being used both by men and women as a fragrance and beautification process. Hence, when consummating the marriage, the scent of myrrh emits from the man and the woman. (Song of Solomon 4:6, 14, 5:1)

“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.” – Song of Solomon 4:6

“Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices” Song of Solomon 4:14

“I come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” – Song of Solomon 5:1

Note:Though I’ve already mentioned in my Frankincense post, that Myrrh always comes with Frankincense, I still want to highlight and reiterate it here.

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

“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.” – Song of Solomon 4:6

“Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices” Song of Solomon 4:14

“And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11

Since the bible confirmed that the oil of myrrh was used by the people in the Bible, I see Myrrh as a lot more special than any other oil. Myrrh is a very important oil for me. As of now, I feel that I still have very limited knowledge about Myrrh, but I wanted to know and study more about Myrrh. I know that there are so many things to learn about Myrrh. A few months ago, I have already started studying Myrrh, but because of some distractions, my study of Myrrh was hampered. As of the moment, I persevere to know more about Myrrh. I hope that I will get to learn more about Myrrh. I want to know Myrrh deeply, both the good and even the bad things about it. I want to know Myrrh the way Myrrh Enthusiasts know about it.

Persevere to discover more 💋❤

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References:

• https://www.lindashealthjourney.com/wine-and-myrrh-to-help-arthritis/
• Koskenniemi E., Nisula K., Toppari J. Wine Mixed with Myrrh (Mark 15.23) and Crurifragium (John 19.31-32): Two Details of the Passion Narratives. Journal for the Study of the New Testament. 2005. Volume 27, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142064X05055745