Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4400 Vegetation and food  »  4496 perfume

Substances used to make perfumes

By blending ingredients

Exodus 30:23-24,34

Substances used as perfumes

Songs 4:13-14 See also Songs 1:12-14; Songs 3:6; Songs 5:13; Mark 14:3; John 12:3

Perfume ingredients as traded commodities

Genesis 37:25; Ezekiel 27:19; Revelation 18:13

The attractive fragrance of perfume

Its tempting allure

Proverbs 7:17 See also Isaiah 57:9; Ezekiel 23:40-41

Its pleasing fragrance

Proverbs 27:9; Songs 1:3; Songs 4:10

Fragrance used metaphorically

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 See also Ephesians 5:2; Philippians 4:18

Examples of the use of perfume

As a cosmetic

Esther 2:12 See also Ruth 3:3

To give fragrance to clothes

Psalm 45:8 See also Songs 4:11

In burying the dead

Matthew 26:12 pp Mark 14:8 See also 2 Chronicles 16:14; Mark 16:1 pp Luke 23:56-24:1; John 12:7; John 19:39-40

Perfumers

Commissioned to make oil and incense for the sanctuary

Exodus 37:29 See also Exodus 30:25,33 The manufacture of the sacred anointing oil by unauthorised persons was forbidden; Exodus 30:35; 1 Chronicles 9:30

Other references to perfumers

1 Samuel 8:13 perfumers in the service of the king; Nehemiah 3:8 Hananiah

See also

4466  herbs and spices
4486  myrrh
4488  oil
4490  ointment
5183  smell
5234  bottle
5241  burial
6241  seduction
7304  anointing
7386  incense