Nard Perfume in the New Testament
Nard perfume, a costly aromatic substance, appears in the New Testament in accounts of Jesus' anointing [1, 4, 7]. The Gospel of John specifies that Mary, the sister of Lazarus, used "a pound of pure nard perfume, very precious," to anoint Jesus' feet, wiping them with her hair, filling the house with its fragrance [1]. This event is also recorded in Mark 14:3-5 and Matthew 26:7 [4, 7].
Spikenard, from which the ointment was made, is identified as an aromatic herb of the valerian family (Nardostachys jatamansi) [4]. It was imported from regions such as Arabia, India, and the Far East from an early age [4]. The Tyndale House commentary notes that nard was a sweet, red spice imported from North India, smelling like gladiola perfume [7]. Its value was considerable, with the amount used by Mary estimated to be worth nearly a year's wages [7, 9]. The act of anointing Jesus with such an expensive perfume was a "dramatic gesture" [7]. While John specifies anointing Jesus' feet, Mark's account also mentions anointing his head, with the perfume running down and scenting his garments [7]. The use of hair to wipe Jesus' feet was also significant, as women typically did not unveil their hair in public [7].
Perfumes and ointments held significant cultural and religious importance in the ancient Near East [3]. The free use of perfumes was particularly appreciated by Orientals, whose sense of smell was sensitive to the odors produced by their warm climate [3]. Hebrews manufactured perfumes primarily from spices imported from Arabia, though some aromatic plants from their own country were also used [3]. Perfumes were integral to temple service, used in the form of incense and ointment (Exodus 30:22-38), and were also widely used in private life, applied to the person [3]. The term "balm" (Hebrew tzori or tezri), mentioned in the Old Testament, refers to an aromatic plant or its resinous sap, though its exact identification remains uncertain [2]. It may have been the gum of Pistacia lentiscus or Balsamodendron opobalsamum, similar to the balm of Gilead [2].
The use of expensive perfumes and spices is also noted in other biblical contexts. For instance, Revelation 18:13 lists "cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense" among other luxury goods [5]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on this verse notes that cinnamon, while used in the holy anointing oil and mentioned in the Song of Solomon 4:14, was also "desecrated to vile uses" [6]. The "odours" mentioned in Revelation 18:13 refer to incense, and some manuscripts include "amomium," a precious hair ointment [6].
The concept of a "sweet savor" (Hebrew nicho'ach) in the Old Testament, as seen in Genesis 8:21, is related to the idea of rest (menuchah) and signifies something that assuaged God's anger or caused a divine power to rest upon humanity [8]. This highlights the ancient understanding of pleasant aromas as having spiritual significance. The anointing of Jesus with nard perfume, therefore, was not merely a practical act but one imbued with profound cultural and theological meaning, foreshadowing his burial [9].
Sources
- John “John 12:3 (Rotherham) — Mary, therefore, taking a pound of pure nard perfume, very precious, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped, with her hair, his feet; and, the house, was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Balm — (from balsam, Heb. tzori, tezri) occurs in (Genesis 37:25; 43:11; Jeremiah 8:22; 46:11; 51:8; Ezekiel 27:17) (It is an aromatic plant, or the resinous odoriferous sap or gum which exudes from such plants.) It is impossible to identify it with any certainty. It is impossible to identify it with any certainty. It may represent the gum of the Pistacia lentiscus, or more probably that of the Balsamodendron opobalsamum, allied to the balm of Gilead, which abounded in Gilead east of the Jordan. The trees resembled fig trees (or grape vines), but were lower, being but”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Perfumes — The free use of perfumes was peculiarly grateful to the Orientals, (Proverbs 27:9) whose olfactory nerves are more than usually sensitive to the offensive smells engendered by the heat of their climate. The Hebrews manufactured their perfumes chiefly from spices imported from Arabia though to a certain extent also from aromatic plants growing in their own country. Perfumes entered largely into the temple service, in the two forms of incense and ointment. (Exodus 30:22-38) Nor were they less used in private life; not only were they applied to the person, but”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Spikenard — (Heb. nerd) is mentioned twice in the Old Testament viz. in (Song of Solomon 1:12; 4:13,14) The ointment with which our Lord was anointed as he sat at meat in Simon's house at Bethany consisted of this precious substance, the costliness of which may be inferred from the indignant surprise manifested by some of the witnesses of the transaction. See (Mark 14:3-5; John 12:3,5) (Spikenard, from which the ointment was made, was an aromatic herb of the valerian family (Nardostachys jatamansi). It was imported from an early age from Arabia India and the Far East.”
- King James Version “[KJV] Revelation 18:13 — And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 18:13: cinnamon--designed by God for better purposes: being an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a plant in the garden of the Beloved (Sol 4:14); but desecrated to vile uses by the adulteress (Pro 7:17). odours--of incense. A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac prefix "and amomium" (a precious hair ointment made from an Asiatic shrub). English Version reading is supported by Coptic and ANDREAS, but not oldest manuscripts. ointments--Greek, "ointment." frankincense--Contrast the true "incense" which God loves (Psa 141:2; Mal 1:11). fine flour--the sim”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 12:3: 12:3 Mary . . . anointed Jesus’ feet: Doing so was not awkward, because Jews reclined at formal meals, but it was certainly a dramatic gesture (cp. Matt 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-9). • Nard, a precious spice imported from North India, was sweet, red, and smelled like gladiola perfume. Twelve ounces of nard cost a year’s wages (John 12:5). According to Mark, Mary also anointed Jesus’ head (Mark 14:3), and the perfume ran down and scented his garments (Mark 14:8). • her hair: Women never unveiled their hair in public (see Luke 7:38). Mary was acting with extravagant abandon ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 8:21: THE SWEET SAVOUR. Nicho’ach (sweet savour) comes from the same root as menuchah (rest). 44 From the root nun, vav, chet . The chet is doubled in nicho’ach as the final peh of the root of ve-na’afufe’ah (and her adulteries) is doubled (Hos. 2:4). Its meaning is that the sweet odor assuaged God’s anger, or that it caused a power from on high to rest on man. 45 Compare, to cause a blessing to rest (le-hani’ach) on thy house (Ezek. 44:30).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 26:7: 26:7 The jar of expensive perfume was a burial ointment (see Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56–24:1; John 12:1-7; 19:38-42) made of nard, which was harvested in India. The value of this jar of perfume was nearly a year’s wages (John 12:5).”