Spikenard
(Heb. nerd) is mentioned twice in the Old Testament viz. in (Song of Solomon 1:12; 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 12:3,5) (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=) may beat 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 or .-ED.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Spikenard
Spikenard spik'-nard (nerd; nardos (Song 1:12; 4:14); neradhim; nardoi (Song 4:13), "spikenard plants"; nardos pistike (Mr 14:3; Joh 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 ⇒See a list of verses on SPIKENARD in the Bible. 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 pistike, in the New Testament, there is much dif…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Spikenard
A fragrant, essenti;i( oil, from Nrirdostachi/s Jata- mansi, DC, a plant of the order Valerianacem, growing in India. The shaggy stems, branching from their base, resemble the tail of an ermine. The perfume is procured from this part of the plant. It is called by the Arabs Sunhiil Hindi, the Indian Spike. It is mentioned 3 times in the OT (Ca 1" 4"- [pi. nUradim]^*), and once in the NT (Mk 14« II Jn l'«), where it is called i-dpSoj ri<rTi/[i). The root meaning of ^i.v<tr is fluid. AVm gives ' pure' or ' liquid nard,'and RVm 'genuine' or ' liquid nard,' or considers that pistic may be a 'local name.' As the perfume is an oil, the etymological signilication is eminently appropriate, and shiiuld be retained. The Romans used it in this state for anointing the head. It was exceed- ingly valuable (Jn I.e.), that used to anoint Jesus' feet being worth about £12. Pliny gives 100 denarii as the value of a pound of it. That used for our Saviour must have been of a very superior grade. The tests of genuineness given by Pliny are lightness, red colour, sweet smell, taste which leaves a dry sensa…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Spikenard
nard, meaning "the stalk"; so our "spike-nard", Arabic sunbul. Son 1:12; Son 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 (Mar 14:3-5; Joh 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 Nardostachys 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.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia