Myrrh
What Is Myrrh?
Myrrh is a fragrant gum resin obtained from trees of the genus Commiphora, particularly Commiphora myrrha, a stunted tree native to Arabia and the Horn of Africa. The resin exudes naturally from the bark in small, tear-like drops that dry into a rich brown or reddish-yellow substance with a warm, bitter taste and a distinctive, pleasant aroma. The name "myrrh" comes from the Hebrew word meaning "bitter," reflecting its taste.
In the ancient world, myrrh was one of the most prized aromatic substances. It was traded along caravan routes from southern Arabia to Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean, making it a luxury item of considerable commercial value.
Myrrh in the Sacred Anointing Oil
Myrrh's most sacred use in Scripture was as a primary ingredient in the holy anointing oil prescribed by God for the tabernacle. In Exodus 30:23-25, God instructed Moses to take "flowing myrrh" as the first ingredient, along with cinnamon, aromatic cane, and cassia, all mixed with olive oil. This sacred oil was used to anoint the tabernacle, the ark, the altar, and the priests themselves. It set them apart as holy to the Lord, and ordinary people were forbidden to replicate it for common use (Exodus 30:32-33).
The specification of "flowing myrrh" or "liquid myrrh" has led some scholars to suggest that the product used was not the dried gum resin but the fresh, liquid balsam — a more rare and valuable form of the substance.
Myrrh as Perfume and Symbol of Love
The Song of Solomon is rich with myrrh imagery. The beloved describes her lover as "a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts" (Song of Solomon 1:13). She encounters myrrh on the handles of the door bolt (Song of Solomon 5:5), and the lovers meet in a garden filled with myrrh and other spices (Song of Solomon 4:6, 14; 5:1, 13). In this poetic context, myrrh symbolizes romantic love, intimacy, and desire.
Myrrh was also used as a general perfume for garments and living spaces. Psalm 45:8 describes royal robes fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, while Proverbs 7:17 mentions a bed perfumed with myrrh.
The Gifts of the Magi
Myrrh appears at the very beginning of Jesus' life story. The wise men from the East brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:11). Early Christian interpreters saw prophetic significance in each gift: gold representing kingship, frankincense representing divinity, and myrrh — used in embalming — foreshadowing Jesus' suffering and death. Whether or not this symbolism was intended by the Magi, the inclusion of myrrh among the gifts connects the joy of the nativity to the sorrow of the cross.
Myrrh at the Cross and the Tomb
Myrrh bookends the earthly life of Jesus. At the crucifixion, Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh as a pain-relieving anesthetic, but he refused it (Mark 15:23). This refusal has been interpreted as Jesus choosing to endure the full weight of suffering with a clear mind.
After the crucifixion, Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds to prepare Jesus' body for burial (John 19:39). The extravagant quantity reflected both the honor due to Jesus and Nicodemus's devotion. The use of myrrh in burial practices was well established in the ancient world, valued for its preservative and aromatic properties.
Myrrh and Ladanum
A second substance, sometimes also translated as "myrrh," appears in Genesis 37:25 and 43:11. This is ladanum, a fragrant resin obtained from the cistus or rock-rose plant, which grew abundantly in Palestine. When Jacob sent his sons to Egypt with gifts for the Egyptian governor (not knowing it was Joseph), he included this aromatic resin among the "best products of the land" (Genesis 43:11). The Ishmaelite traders who carried Joseph to Egypt were also transporting this substance along with other aromatics (Genesis 37:25).
Biblical Context
Myrrh appears in the Pentateuch as an ingredient in the sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:23). It features prominently in the Song of Solomon as a symbol of love (Song of Solomon 1:13; 3:6; 4:6, 14; 5:1, 5, 13). Psalm 45:8 and Proverbs 7:17 mention it as a luxury perfume. In the Gospels, it is one of the Magi's gifts (Matthew 2:11), offered as an anesthetic at the cross (Mark 15:23), and used in Jesus' burial (John 19:39). Ladanum, a related substance, appears in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 37:25; 43:11).
Theological Significance
Myrrh's dual association with sacred worship and death gives it unique theological significance. As an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, it represents consecration to God. As a gift to the infant Jesus, it foreshadows his sacrificial death. As an anesthetic refused at the cross, it demonstrates Jesus' willingness to suffer fully. As a burial spice, it honors his body while pointing to the reality of his death — making the resurrection all the more remarkable. Myrrh thus threads together the themes of holiness, suffering, death, and devotion throughout Scripture.
Historical Background
Myrrh was one of the most traded luxury goods of the ancient world, transported along the famous incense routes from southern Arabia (modern Yemen and Oman) northward to Egypt and the Mediterranean. Egyptian records document its use in embalming, medicine, and religious ritual from at least the second millennium BC. The Romans used it as a medicinal additive to wine and as a fumigant. Archaeological evidence of myrrh trade has been found at sites throughout the ancient Near East, confirming the biblical references to its commercial importance.