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perfumes in the Bible

Perfumes were used in various ways in Biblical times and are often mentioned in Scripture.

Perfumers

Hebrew: רַקָּח —transliteration: raqqach —meaning: perfumer; ointment maker

Hebrew: רָקַח —transliteration: raqach —meaning: to mix or compound oil or ointment

Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs [to the Jerusalem’s wall]… —Nehemiah 3:8 NKJV

Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,
And cause it to give off a foul odor;
So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. —Ecclesiastes 10:1 NKJV

Hebrew: רַקָּחָה —transliteration: raqqachah ——meaning: female ointment maker; female perfumer

He [Saul, first king of Israel] will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. —1 Samuel 8:13 NKJV

Perfume boxes

These are mentioned in Isaiah 3:20.

Hebrew words translated into English as perfume

Hebrew: רֹקַח —transliteration: roqach —meaning: spice mixture, perfume

Hebrew: רַקֻּחַ —transliteration: riqquach —meaning: perfumery

Hebrew: מֶרְקָח —transliteration: merqach —meaning: spice, perfume

Hebrew: מִרְקַחַת —transliteration: mirqachath —meaning: an ointment mixture; perfumes

Hebrew: נֵרְדְּ —transliteration: nard —meaning: nard; nard plants (an odorific plant from India via Persia); spikenard; perfume

Hebrew: בָּשְׂמַת —transliteration: Basemath —meaning: perfume; sweet-smelling

Two women named “Perfume”

Hebrew: בָּשְׂמַת —transliteration: Basemath —meaning: perfume; sweet-smelling

Who is Bashemath (Basemath)?

More information

Article Version: July 1, 2021