Exodus 30 (KJV With Strong's) - Bible Truth Library

pure myrrh.Myrrh is a white gum, issuing from the trunk and larger branches of a thorny tree resembling the acacia, growing in Arabia, Egypt, and Abyssinia.

Its taste is extremely bitter; but its smell, though strong, is agreeable; and it entered into the composition of the most costly ointments among the ancients.

The epithet {deror,} rendered pure, properly denotes fluid, from the Arabic {darra,} to flow; by which is meant the finest and most excellent kind, called {stacte,} which issues of itself from the bark without incision.cinnamon.{Kinnamon bosem,} odoriferous or spicy cinnamon, is the bark of the canella, a small tree of the size of a willow growing in the island of Ceylon.sweet calamus.{Kenaih bosem,} {calamus aromaticus,} or odoriferous cane, is a reed growing in Egypt, Syria, and India, about two feet in height, bearing from the root a knotted stalk, quite round, containing in its cavity a soft white pith.

It is said to scent the air while growing; and when cut down, dried, and powdered, makes an ingredient in the richest perfumes.

• {v.23-25} The Psalmist, speaking of the Messiah, says, “All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia;” (Psa. 45:8) and in the preceding verse he says, “God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy Fellows” (Psa. 45:7). This will help us to understand the typical meaning of the holy anointing oil. The spices, then, speak of the graces of Christ. His very garments smell of these sweet perfumes. But they were mingled with oil, and oil, as has been frequently stated, is a figure of the Holy Spirit. (“The Holy Anointing Oil and the Sweet Spices: Exodus 30:22-28” by E. Dennett)

• Myrrh.-Myrrh has the word "pure" attached to it. This word (drohr, Heb.) is always translated wherever it elsewhere occurs, "liberty."...Another word translated "sweet smelling," Cant. 5:5, 13, is connected with myrrh. (The margin has it, passing, or, running about.) Both words, "pure," and "sweet smelling," may have reference to the myrrh flowing out spontaneously, or freely from the plant. (Lev. 25:10; Isa. 61:1; Jer. 34:8,15,17; Ezek. 46:17; Song of Sol. 5:5,13; Psa. 45:8; Song of Sol. 1:13; 4:14; 3:6; 5:1)...This spice was probably bitter to the taste, as its Hebrew derivative implies. (“The Anointing Oil” by H.W. Soltau)

• Myrrh.—This was the gum from a dwarf tree of the terebinth family, growing in Arabia. The gum exudes from the trunk either spontaneously, or through incisions made for the purpose. That prescribed for the ointment was “pure,” literally “free”—the best, what had flowed spontaneously. (“The Anointing Oil” by S. Ridout)

• Sweet cinnamon," properly cinnamon of spice, or aromatic cinnamon, occurs again, Cant. iv. 14, another of the plants of the enclosed garden-the Spouse; and Prov. 7:17, where it is connected with myrrh and aloes, as a perfume for the bed (“The Anointing Oil” by H.W. Soltau)

• It is the bark of a small evergreen tree of the laurel family. Another tree of the same family is the fragrant camphor. The odor of the cinnamon is sweet and its taste agreeable; it is largely used for flavoring....Connected with the word for cinnamon is one translated “sweet,” from a root allied with our “balsam,” and meaning “fragrance.” This would put double emphasis upon this fragrant spice....It is well too to recall the fact that this tree was an evergreen, passing through no periods of inertness. So our Lord was ever the unchangingly devoted One, whose leaf did not wither in time of drought or cold. In the midst of the arid waste of unbelief—as at Chorazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum—there were no marks of feebleness upon Him: “I thank thee, O Father,” was His language there as everywhere. (“The Golden Altar” by S. Ridout)

• "Sweet Calamus," or cane of spice, or aromatic cane This word " calamus," is translated Stalk.-Gen. 41:5,22. Branch, of the candlestick.-Ex. 25:31,32,33,35,36, etc. Reed.-1st Kings xiv. 15; 2 Kings 18:21, etc. Sweet Cane.-Isa. 43:24; Jer. 6:20. Balance.-Isa. 46:6. And a measuring reed, or rod.-Ezek. 40:3, etc. This is also another of the plants of the enclosed garden. Cant. 4:14. (“The Anointing Oil” by H.W. Soltau)

• {calamus} The “sweet,” as in the case of the cinnamon, tells of its fragrance, and this would seem to give us the clue to the article intended. A “sweet cane” is said to be found in Lebanon, also in India and Arabia. It usually grows in miry soil, from which it sends up the shoots from which its name is derived. The fragrant cane of India is supposed to have been the “spikenard” of Scripture. The fragrance was obtained by crushing the plant....(see also Isa. 43:24; Jer. 6:20; So. 4:14; Ezek. 27:19). Its growth in the mire may remind us of One who in the mire of this world grew up erect and fragrant for God. (“The Golden Altar” by S. Ridout)

J. N. Darby Translation

And thou, take best spices—of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon the half—two hundred and fifty, and of sweet myrtlea two hundred and fifty,

JND Translation Notes

As "calamus" in Cant. 4.14; Ezek. 27.19; and "cane" as Isa. 43.24; Jer. 6.20.

W. Kelly Translation

And thou, take best spices—of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels , and of sweet cinnamon the half—two hundred and fifty, and of sweet myrtle two hundred and fifty,

WK Verse Note

(Note: Words in italics have been inserted from the J. N. Darby translation where the W. Kelly translation doesn’t exist.)