κινάμωμον

cinnamon

Definition

κινάμωμον refers to cinnamon, a fragrant spice derived from the inner bark of trees in the genus Cinnamomum. In the biblical world, it was a highly valued luxury item used in perfumes, anointing oils, and as a flavoring. The word appears only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 18:13, where it is listed among the costly merchandise of Babylon the Great that will no longer be traded. This singular usage highlights its role as a symbol of extravagant wealth and commerce.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 18:13. It appears in a prophetic list of luxury goods—including gold, silver, jewels, fine linen, and spices—that represent the immense wealth and corrupt trade of the symbolic city of Babylon. Its usage is purely descriptive within this inventory of valuable commodities, serving to illustrate the scope of the economic system that will fall.

Etymology

The Greek word κινάμωμον (kinamōmon) is a direct borrowing, likely via Phoenician traders, from a Semitic source. It is related to the Hebrew word קִנָּמוֹן (qinnāmôn, H7076), found in Exodus 30:23 and Proverbs 7:17. The term passed into Greek and later Latin (cinnamomum) without significant change in meaning, consistently referring to the aromatic spice.

Semantic Range

While cinnamon itself is a mundane spice, its sole biblical listing in Revelation 18:13 carries theological weight. It symbolizes the seductive luxury, material excess, and global trade networks associated with worldly systems opposed to God. Its inclusion underscores the completeness of Babylon's wealth and the totality of its coming judgment, teaching believers about the transient nature of earthly riches and corrupt commerce.

In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman world, cinnamon was an expensive import from distant lands like Sri Lanka and India, making it a marker of great wealth and status. It was used not only in cooking but more importantly in sacred rituals (e.g., the holy anointing oil in Exodus 30:23) and as a perfume. Its presence in Revelation's list would immediately signal opulence and far-reaching trade to a first-century reader.

ἄρωμα (arōma, G759) — a broader term for any spice, perfume, or aromatic substance. σμύρνα (smyrna, G4666) — myrrh, another costly, fragrant resin used similarly in perfumes and burial preparations.

Word Details

Scripture References