Spikenard

views updated May 29 2018

SPIKENARD

SPIKENARD (Nard ; Heb. נֵרְד, nerd), spice mentioned three times in the Song of Songs. It grew in the imaginary spice garden to which the loved one is compared (Song 4:12–14) and she perfumed herself with it while waiting for her beloved (1:12). According to an ancient baraita, spikenard was one of the 11 spices from which the Temple incense was prepared (Ker. 6a; see *Incense and Perfumes and Pittum ha-Ketoret). It is called spikenard (Nardostachys) because of its appearance, which is similar to that of an ear of corn. It was extracted from the plants Nardostachys jatamansi and N. grandiflora that grow in the Himalayas. The name nard is derived from the Sanskrit nalada which means "spreading fragrance." This highly valued perfume was extracted both from the stalk (Lat. spicatum) which is the spikenard and from the leaves (Lat. foliatum). The Tosefta mentions polyaton oil among the luxuries whose use according to one view was forbidden after the destruction of the Temple as a sign of mourning (Tosef., Sot. 15:9).

bibliography:

Loew, Flora, 1 (1926), 309; 2 (1924), 15; 3 (1924), 483; J. Feliks, Olam ha-Ẓome'aḥ ha-Mikra'i (19682), 244–5; H.N. and A.L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible (1952), index.

[Jehuda Feliks]

spikenard

views updated Jun 08 2018

spikenard XIV. — medL. spīca nardī (see SPIKE2, NARD), or more immed. — OF. spicanard(e) or MLG. spīkenard, MDu. spīkenaerde (Du. spijknardus)
.

spikenard

views updated May 14 2018

spikenard a costly perfumed ointment much valued in ancient times; in John 12:3, Mary ‘took…a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus’.