Spikenard

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Spikenard ( = ‘spiked nard’).—The Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 rendering of νάρδος πιστική in  Mark 14:3,  John 12:3, or rather of the Vulgate nardi spicati (in Jn. nardi pistici ). The word ‘spikanard’ ( sic ) appears first in Wyclif’s version, the Anglo-Saxon having merely ‘deorwyrðes’ (= ‘precious’). Tindale has ‘pure.’ These various translations indicate the doubt as to the meaning of the Greek, which was felt from very early times, and is reflected in the Versions generally. The oldest Syriac version and some. Old Latin texts simply transliterate, while the Peshitta renders by rishåyå (= ‘choicest’). Of the various explanations of the word πιστική, the most generally accepted are: (1) ‘Genuine,’ as though it were connected with πίστις (Meyer, Weiss, etc.). The word πιστικός does actually occur in Artemidorus ( Oneir. 2. 32) in the sense of ‘faithful’ (γυνὴ πιστικὴ καὶ οἰκουρός); and we learn from Pliny ( HN xii. 26) that adulterations of nard were frequent.* [Note: Theophylact, τἠν ἄδολον νάρδον καὶ μετἀ πίστεως κατασκευασθεἵσαν (Com. on St. Mark. Migne, Pat. Gr. cxxix.).] (2) ‘Liquid,’ as though it was connected with πίνω. Ovid ( Ars. Am. iii. 443) uses the epithet liquida with nardus  ; and Clement of Alexandria ( Paed. ii. viii. 64) distinguishes between μύρα ὑγρά and μύρα ξηρά. (3) ‘Drinkable.’ Athenaeus tells us that some unguents were drunk (689 C). But the Greek word for drinkable is ποτός, not πιστικός.† [Note: Scaliger derived the word from πτίσσειν, ‘to pound.’ But this does not give a satisfactory sense.] Some have suspected a ‘primitive error’ in the text here, and have proposed various emendations. It has been suggested that the true reading is Ἰνδικής. All our authorities agree in stating that the genuine nard came from India, while inferior sorts came from other countries. Others would read σπικάτης (= Vulgate spicati ), a word found in Galen, vi. 178 C, 182 C, E. Naber ( Mnemosyne , 1902, pp. 1–15) conjectures an original form, σπειστικῆς (= ‘liquid’), which, being a ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, might have been corrupted into πιστικῆς. Prof. E. N. Bennett ( Classical Review , 1890, p. 319) suggests that the true form may be πιστάκης, and points out that the resin of the Pistacia terebinthus was anciently mixed with the oil of nard, and that it was a very valuable scent (Dioscorides, i. 91). All these emendations, however, ingenious and interesting as they are, are rendered improbable by the fact that neither in St. Mark nor in St. John is there any variation in the Manuscripts.

It is difficult to say with anything like certainty what the meaning of the word was. It may be a local name, as (Revised Version margin) suggests.* [Note: Ὁπιστικῆς (from Opis, near Babylon), ψιττακικῆς (from Psittake on the Tigris), and Πίστης (from the (?) Persian town Pisteira) have been suggested as possible readings. But none of these is an Indian town.] Possibly it is the Greek equivalent of Pisitá , one of the Skr. names for Nardostachys jatamansi (Dymock, Pharmacographia Indica , ii. p. 233). But most likely it is a technical term denoting some specially valuable kind of nard.† [Note: This idea is found as early as Theophylact (c. 1077 a.d.), who says that the word may denote εἷδος ναρδου σῦτω λεγομενον.] Modern experience goes to show how easily the exact meaning of similar technical or ‘fancy’ names can be lost. Such has probably been the case with the word we are discussing. See also artt. Nard, Ointment.

Literature.—See the authorities cited at end of art. Nard. The question is discussed by C. F. A. Fritzsche ( Com. on St. Mark , Leipzig, 1830) at great length, and very fully by Morison ( Com. on Mk., in loc. ).

H. W. Fulford.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

So called from Narred or Nard. We meet with this word not very frequently in Scripture. The spouse in the Canticles speaks of it. ( Song of Song of Solomon 1:12) —And the woman who anointed the head of Jesus before his sufferings, is said to have done it with the ointment of spikenard. ( Mark 14:3) Certainly in both it was figurative. The spikenard itself is a small uninteresting shrub, not likely to attract the attention of any which are fond of plants, for there is no beauty in it; yet the smell and fragrancy of it is said by some to be unequalled. So that in whatever point of view we esteem the figure or similitude, whether in allusion to Christ, or his church, or his gospel, the resemblance is striking. What so humble, low, despised, and overlooked as Jesus, though the plant of renown? ( Ezekiel 34:29) "There was no beauty that we should desire him"—and yet what fragrancy, like the sweet incense of his blood and righteousness, to perfume the persons and offerings of his people? So his church; what more contemptible in the eyes of the great ones of the earth?—or his gospel, what more despised and set at nought? Yet how lovely, and how fragrant, in the view of Jesus! Hear what Jesus saith,"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!" ( Song of Song of Solomon 4:10) Oh, for grace to echo back to such matchless grace—While the king sitteth at his table—while his grace and the influences of his Holy Spirit, are calling forth into lively exercise those blessed principles he himself hath planted in my heart—"my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." Yea, Jesus himself is the spikenard of my soul; his person, his blood, and righteousness, are an everlasting fragrancy to come up before my God as a sweet-smelling savour.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Νάρδος (Strong'S #3487 — Noun Feminine — nardos — nar'-dos )

is derived, through the Semitic languages (Heb. nerd, Syriac nardin), from the Sanskrit nalada, "a fragrant oil," procured from the stem of an Indian plant. The Arabs call it the "Indian spike." The adjective pistikos is attached to it in the NT,  Mark 14:3;  John 12:3; pistikos, if taken as an ordinary Greek word, would signify "genuine." There is evidence, however, that it was regarded as a technical term. It has been suggested that the original reading was pistakes, i.e., the Pistacia Terebinthus, which grows in Cyprus, Syria, Palestine, etc., and yields a resin of very fragrant odor, and in such inconsiderable quantities as to be very costly. "Nard was frequently mixed with aromatic ingredients ... so when scented with the fragrant resin of the pistake it would quite well be called nardos pistakes" (E. N. Bennett, in the Classical Review for 1890, Vol. iv, p. 319). The oil used for the anointing of the Lord's head was worth about f12, and must have been of the most valuable kind. In the Sept., Song of  Song of Solomon 1:12;  4:13,14 .

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

נרכּ? . By this was meant a highly aromatic plant growing in the Indies, called "nardostachys," by Dioscorides and Galen; from whence was made the very valuable extract or unguent, or favourite perfume, used at the ancient baths and feasts, unguentum nardinum, unguentum nardi spicatae, [the perfume or unction of spikenard,] which it appears from a passage in Horace, was so valuable, that as much of it as could be contained in a small box of precious stone, was considered as a sort of equivalent for a large vessel of wine, and a handsome quota for a guest to contribute at an entertainment, according to the custom of antiquity:

Nardo vina merebere:

Nardi parvus onyx eliciet cadum.

"Bring you the odours, and a cask is thine. Thy little box of ointment shall produce

A mighty cask." — FRANCIS.

St. Mark,  Mark 14:3 , mentions "ointment of spikenard very precious," which is said to be worth more than three hundred denarii; and  John 12:3 , mentions a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly; the house was filled with the odour of the ointment; it was worth three hundred denarii. It is not to be supposed that this was a Syrian production, but the true "atar" of Indian spikenard; an unguent, containing the very essence of the plant, and brought at a great expense from a remote country.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Spikenard. (Hebrew, nerd ). Spikenard is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, namely, in  Song of Solomon 1:12;  Song of Solomon 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;  John 12:5.

(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. The costliness of Mary's offering, (300 pence = $45), may best be seen from the fact that a penny, (denarius, 15 to 17 cents), was, in those days, the day-wages of a laborer.  Matthew 20:2. In our day, this would equal at least $300 or $400. - Editor).

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Nard , meaning "the stalk"; so our "spike-nard", Arabic Sunbul .  Song of Solomon 1:12;  Song of Solomon 4:13-14. Of it the ointment with which Mary anointed Jesus was made; it was so costly that Judas and other disciples murmured at the waste ( Mark 14:3-5;  John 12:3-5), its worth being 300 Denarii , about 9 British pounds 7s. 6d. A valerian, with roots of strong odor, acting on the nerves Νardostachys Jatamansi (Sanskrit, "Locks Of Hair," From The Shaggy Hair On The Stem) . Brought from distant India it suggested our Lord's declaration, "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." In lands distant as India, from whence it came, shall her gift of it to her Lord be told.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

SPIKENARD ( nçrd ,   Song of Solomon 1:12;   Song of Solomon 4:13-14; also Gr. nardos pistike ,   Mark 14:3 ,   John 12:3 ). The fragrant oil of an Indian plant, Nardostachys jatamansi , which grows with a ‘spike.’ The Arab [Note: Arabic.] , name sunbul hindi , Indian spike, preserves the same idea. The perfume when pure was very valuable (  John 12:3 ).

About the meaning of the Gr. epithet pistikç there has been much speulation. See note in RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] at   Mark 14:3 , and cf. art. ‘Spikenard’ in Hastings’ DCG [Note: CG Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels.] .

E. W. Masterman.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Song of  Song of Solomon 1:12   4:13,14 , a highly perfumed ointment prepared from a plant in India growing in short spikes. It was highly prized by the ancients, and was a favorite perfume at their baths and banquets. Horace represents a small box of it as equivalent to a large vessel of wine, and as a handsome quota for a guest to contribute to an entertainment. It was kept closely sealed, sometimes in alabaster boxes; and to unseal and open it was called breaking the box,  Mark 14:3 . The evangelists speak of it as diffusing a rich perfume; and as "precious," and "very costly," a pound of it being worth more than three hundred denarii, or over forty dollars,  John 12:3-5 . See Alabaster and Penny .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Spikenard (Heb. Nêrd ).  Song of Solomon 1:12;  Song of Solomon 4:13-14. The ointment with which our Lord was anointed in Simon's house at Bethany was this Nêrd, and was very costly. See  Mark 14:3-5;  John 12:3;  John 12:5. The ointment was made from an aromatic herb of the valerian family, imported from an early age from Arabia, India, and the Far East.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

nerd, νάρδος.A plant that grows in India: so called, it is said, because of the 'spikes' that grow out of its roots. Its root and leaves are imported. A costly ointment was made of it, giving off a sweet perfume.  Song of Solomon 1:12;  Song of Solomon 4:13,14;  Mark 14:3;  John 12:3 . It has been identified with the Nardostachys jatamansi.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A fragrant essential oil, as that from the Nardostachys Jatamansi.

(2): ( n.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the Aralia racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the Nardostachys Jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is still prepared in India.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Song of Solomon 1:12  Song of Solomon 1:12  Mark 14:3 John 12:3Spices

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Song of Solomon 1:12 (c) The worship of the heart to our Lord, and the fragrant love of the devoted follower of the Saviour, is a sweet-smelling savour to the GOD of Heaven. (See also  Mark 14:3).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Song of Solomon 1:12 4:13,14 Mark 14:3 John 12:3,5

King James Dictionary

SPIKENARD, n. spik'nard. L. spica nardi.

1. A plant of the genus Nardus. 2. The oil of balsam procured from the spikenard.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spı̄k´nard ( נרדּ , nērd  ; νάρδος , nárdos (  Song of Solomon 1:12;  Song of Solomon 4:14 ); נרדים , nerādhı̄m  ; νάρδοι , nárdoi ( Song of Solomon 4:13 ), "spikenard plants"; νάρδος πιστική , nárdos pistikḗ ( Mark 14:3;  John 12:3 ), "pure nard," margin "liquid nard"; the English word is for "spiked nard," which comes from the Nardus spicatus of the Vulgate): Spikenard is the plant Nardostachys jatamansi (Natural Order, Valerianaceae ); in Arabic the name Sunbul hind , "Indian spike," refers, like the English and Latin name, to the "snike"-like shape of the plant from which the perfume comes. The dried plant as sold consists of the "withered stalks and ribs of leaves cohering in a bundle of yellowish-brown capillary fibres and consisting of a spike about the size of a small finger" (Sir W. Jones, As. Res ., II, 409); in appearance the whole _ plant is said to look like the tail of an ermine. It grows in the Himalayas. The extracted perfume is an oil, which was used by the Romans for anointing the head. Its great costliness is mentioned by Pliny.

With regard to the exact meaning of the πιστική , pistikḗ , in the New Testament, there is much difference of opinion: "pure" and "liquid" are both given in margin, but it has also been suggested among other things that this was a local name, that it comes from the Latin spicita or from pisitā́ , the Sanskrit name of the spikenard plant. The question is an open one: either "genuine" or "pure" is favored by most commentators.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Spikenard'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/s/spikenard.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

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