מֹר
mor
myrrh
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Myrrh (H4753 - מֹר) Myrrh is a resinous substance that appears twelve times throughout the Hebrew Bible, indicating a material of moderate but consistent importance in ancient Israelite culture. The lexical data identifies it simply as "myrrh"—a fragrant plant product with recognizable properties in the biblical world. While the definition provided does not elaborate on the substance's characteristics, the word's repeated presence suggests it held established meaning for biblical audiences, who would have been familiar with its nature and uses. The twelve occurrences of this term distribute across biblical narrative and prescriptive texts, implying that myrrh functioned within multiple contexts—from practical to ritual. The moderate frequency of occurrence (neither rare nor ubiquitous) suggests myrrh occupied a defined niche in Israelite life and practice, valuable enough to mention repeatedly but not woven into everyday vocabulary at every turn. Without additional lexical data about specific contexts or collocations, the analysis remains limited to confirming that myrrh was an established commodity or ritual material that biblical writers considered worthy of designation by a dedicated Hebrew term.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
12 total occurrences across the text
Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).
Psalms 45:8All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Song of Solomon 1:13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
Song of Solomon 3:6Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?
Song of Solomon 4:6Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, I will go to the mountain of myrrh, to the hill of frankincense.
Song of Solomon 4:14spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree; myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices,
Song of Solomon 5:1I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.
Song of Solomon 5:5I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.
Song of Solomon 5:5I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.
Song of Solomon 5:13His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.
Exodus 30:23“Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty;