Looking at the modern meaning of apothecary made me confused for a while. When I hear the word apothecary I think about artisans who use natural materials, and plants to create medicine and tinctures. I thought they are only limited to creating those natural drinks and topicals for health. However, looking at the bible and reading some text written years ago made me understand that they were also making perfumes and oils for anointing.
To clarify my confusion about an apothecary, I re-read the texts I found and look at the verses in the bible that pertains to it. Hence this post highlights the verses that talk about apothecaries.
Male and female apothecaries
According to Easton Bible Dictionary, ointments used for anointing were prepared by priests (1). However, several verses in the bible that speaks about apothecary or creating perfume give us a hint that there were male and female apothecarists. (2) In the book of First Samuel the word used in the King James Version is ‘confectionaries’ which if you look at Strong’s Dictionary means female perfumer. Meanwhile, in Nehemiah, the word used is ‘apothecaries’ which is defined by Strong’s Dictionary as male perfumers.
“Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.” – Nehemiah 3:8
“And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.” – 1 Samuel 8:13
Reserved only for real apothecarists
The book of Exodus stated that the making of holy ointment should only be created through the art of apothecary hence will be made only by real apothecarists. The perfume or ointment they make is special because it is considered pure and holy, that’s why it is only entrusted to artisans who genuinely create perfumes and anointing oils.
“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 30:25
“And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:” – Exodus 30:35
Sweet spices and odors
The Bible gives us a better understanding of what the apothecarists are using for making their perfumes and ointments. They use special ingredients such as sweet spices, and aromatic plants with sweet odors.
“And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.” – Exodus 37:29
“…. filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.” – 2 Chronicles 16:14:
Prohibited contaminants
To ensure that ointments are effective, and safe to use, the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes gives us detail as to what to avoid. It says, that dead flies will make the ointment become smelly or have a stinking savor. Hence, people during those times must know that they should take care of their ointments well by avoiding those dead flies.
“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.” – Ecclesiastes 10:1
I haven’t created my ointments yet, but looking at how the bible describes who are the apothecarists, and what are the things needed to make perfume and ointments makes me want to keep on believing in the art of apothecary and make some ointments and perfumes.
Believe the truth and create good things together 💋❤
References:
- Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Matthew George Easton via My Bible app
- R. H. Kennett, Ancient Hebrew Social Life And Custom As Indicated In Law Narrative And Metaphor, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press Amen House, Ec. (1933)
- (3) King James Bible Version
Oil Therapy 