Some of us may have already heard about the story of a certain woman who poured perfume on Jesus. But, was the substance poured really a perfume? If it is or it is not, you might be wondering what it smelled like as it was mentioned in the Bible that its scent was so apparent in the house. In this post, we’ll be looking at some verses in the bible to find the answers to these questions and help us identify the substance used, its form, and its historical significance.
Spikenard ointment
By looking at some verses in the new testament, we’re going to see that during Jesus’ time, there was a woman who came to Jesus and poured an ointment on him. In the books of Matthew and Luke, it was only mentioned that she was bringing an alabaster box of ointment but was not indicated what kind of ointment it was. However, in John and Mark, we’ll know that the ointment was made of spikenard.
Matthew 26:7
“7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment,
Luke 7:37
“37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
John 12:3
“3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard,
Mark 14:3
“3 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
Going back to the Old Testament, we could trace that spikenard was already being used and valued even as far as Solomon’s time. In Songs 4:10, we can read that Solomon liked the scent of the Shulamite woman’s ointment but the main ingredient wasn’t cited. Upon reading Songs 4:11, we’ll discover that the woman has a garden with different plants including pomegranates, camphire, and spikenard.
Song of Solomon 4:10-15
“10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12 A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.”
However, if we go back to previous chapters of Songs of Solomon, we will be to single out what was the scent that Solomon liked.
Song of Solomon 1:12:
“12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.”
Spikenard has an “attention-grabber” scent
Anyone who uses spikenard will be easily noticed because of its scent. Going back to the story of Jesus we could see that the odor of Spikenard spread out after Mary poured the ointment onto him (John 12:3). Moreover, by re-reading Songs of Solomon, we could observe that the Shulamite woman knows that the king could notice her through the Spikenard’s scent.
John 12:3
… and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Song of Solomon 1:12:
“12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.”
Spikenard can be used in different parts of the body
For safety reasons, some herbs and oils are not recommended to be used in some parts of the body. However, we could read in different verses that when the woman annointed Jesus with the ointment, it touched different parts of the body. In Matthew and Mark, it says that it was poured on the head. In John, we could see that it was rubbed on Jesus’ feet and wiped with the woman’s hair. Still, in the book of John, we could notice that anointing Jesus’ feet with the ointment happened first before wiping His feet with the woman’s hair. But in Luke, we could observe that the woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears first and then applied the ointment. Since John the beloved is the writer of the Book of John, was a disciple of Christ, and had seen Jesus’ miracles and His life right before his eyes, I believe that John’s description was the most reliable account. Moreover, if we look at the sequence of events, it would give us a better understanding of what transpired after the woman rubbed the ointment on Jesus’ feet. After applying Spikenard’s ointment, she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair and so the smell spread out in the house.
Matthew 26:7
… and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
Mark 14:3
… and she broke the box, and poured it on his head.
John 12:3
… and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Luke 7:38
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”
Even during Jesus’ time, Spikenard’s ointment is considered precious
In KJV the word “costly” was used in the book of John to describe the spikenard’s ointment value. while “precious” was used in the book of Mark. It was also mentioned that during that time, it could be sold for 300 pence which was a good amount to donate to the poor. Hence, we could conclude that the ointment of Spikenard must be really valuable during those times.
John 12:3
…. a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly,
Mark 14:3
… an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious;
John 12:5
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Matthew 26:9
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.
Mark 14:5
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Spikenard ointment was used as a topical for burial preparation
Whether the woman’s reason for choosing the spikenard ointment was due to its fragrance, therapeutic properties, or relaxing effect, her ultimate intention was to show Jesus her reverence for him. Meanwhile, Jesus said that it was to anoint his body before his burial. This gives us an idea that the ointment of spikenard was being applied for different purposes.
Matthew 26:12
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
John 12:7
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.”
Mark 14:8
“8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.”
Lasting scent of the Spikenard, and the scent of the woman
The woman’s gestures have shown her humility, deep respect, and belief in Jesus. Choosing spikenard ointment which was considered valuable at that time shows how highly he thinks of Jesus and that she was willing to offer to God the best that she had. Because of the humble heart and reverence of woman for Jesus, we repeatedly hear her story which makes her fragrance to still linger up to the present.
Matthew 26:13
13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”
Mark 14:9
“9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
Spikenard in Israel
Spikenard came from the Himalayas where the countries India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China can be located. However, by reading Songs of Solomon we could read that the Shuhlamite woman has a garden with spikenard plants. Shulahmites were said to be from the town Shunem or Shulam which is situated in Lower Galilee in Israel (Bible Archeology). Hence we could trace that even during the time of Solomon, the plant Spikenard already exists and is used in Israel.
Spikenard herb or its essential oil?
It wasn’t mentioned in any of the verses of the Bible that the ointment used Spikenard’s essential oil. We can’t exactly tell which part of the plant was used nor verify if its oils were used. We can only conclude but not identify exactly what was used to concoct the ointment. Maybe we can only have a more reliable hint by looking at the authentic traditional way of preparing Spiikenard’s ointment.
Stay well
Reference:
- King James Version
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