קִדָּה
cassia bark (as in shrivelled rolls)
Definition
קִדָּה (qiddâh) refers to cassia, a fragrant bark from the cassia tree, which was used as a spice and perfume ingredient in the ancient world. It is specifically mentioned as one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:24) and as a valuable trade commodity (Ezekiel 27:19). The word likely describes the bark in its prepared form, which was often dried and rolled into shriveled sticks. In both biblical occurrences, it is listed among other precious aromatic substances, emphasizing its value and sacred or luxurious associations.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament. In Exodus 30:24, it is a component of the sacred anointing oil used to consecrate the tabernacle and its priests. In Ezekiel 27:19, it appears in a trade list as a luxury item exported from Judah and Israel to the merchant city of Tyre. Its usage is exclusively in contexts of high value—either religious consecration or international commerce.
Etymology
Derived from the root קָדַד (qādad, H6915), meaning 'to bow down' or 'to shrivel.' This connection likely refers to the appearance of the dried, rolled cassia bark. It is a cognate with similar words in related Semitic languages for aromatic plants. The etymology highlights the physical form of the spice as it was prepared and traded.
Semantic Range
As an ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-33), cassia (qiddâh) contributes to the theology of consecration and God's prescribed worship. The oil was used to set apart the tabernacle, its utensils, and the priests, symbolizing holiness and separation for God's service. Understanding this specific ingredient enriches the reading of Exodus by emphasizing the care, value, and sensory beauty God incorporated into worship, pointing to His holiness and the need for a mediated, sacred approach.
Cassia was a valuable spice in the ancient Near East, imported from regions like India and Arabia. It was used for its fragrance in perfumes and oils, and sometimes in medicine. Its inclusion in the anointing oil and trade lists signifies it was a luxury item, akin to myrrh or cinnamon. Modern readers might simply think of it as a spice, but in its context, it represented significant economic worth and was integral to sacred rituals.
קִנָּמוֹן (qinnāmôn, H7076) — cinnamon, another fragrant bark used in the anointing oil but from a different plant. כַּרְכֹּם (karkōm, H3753) — saffron, a different aromatic spice derived from a flower. נֵרְדְּ (nērd, H5373) — spikenard, a costly aromatic oil from a plant, used for anointing (e.g., Song of Solomon 1:12, Mark 14:3).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →