Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5125 Parts of the body and clothing  »  5183 smell

An aroma; God is pleased by the aroma of sacrifice, whether a literal sacrifice or the figurative offering of Christian service is a picture of its acceptability to him. Bad smells can indicate physical decay or the results of judgment. To be a stench to someone is to be held in contempt or hated by that person.

The aroma of sacrifice

Genesis 8:21 See also Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 2:2; Leviticus 3:5; Leviticus 4:31; Leviticus 6:15,21; Leviticus 8:21; Leviticus 23:13,18; Numbers 15:14,24 offerings to be made for unintentional breaking of the LORD's commandments; Numbers 18:17; Numbers 28:2; Numbers 29:2

Substances to create a pleasing smell

Exodus 30:7-8 See also Exodus 30:22-29,34-38; Exodus 35:28; Exodus 37:29; Exodus 40:26-27; Numbers 4:16; 2 Chronicles 2:4; Corinthians 13:11

The aroma of sacrifice is not always pleasing to God

Leviticus 26:31; Ezekiel 8:11-13; Ezekiel 20:27-29

Jesus Christ was the supreme fragrant offering

Ephesians 5:2

God accepts his people as fragrant incense

Ezekiel 20:41 See also Hosea 14:5-6

A pleasing aroma depicts acceptable Christian service

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 See also Philippians 4:18

Fragrance associated with the expression of love

Songs 1:2-3; Songs 4:16-5:1 The beloved's garden is an image of her body. See also Psalm 45:8; Songs 1:12-13; Songs 3:6; Songs 4:10-11; Songs 5:13; Songs 7:8

John 12:3

A bad smell

Indicating decay

John 11:39 See also Exodus 16:20 Manna soon smelled bad if kept. This meant the Israelites had to trust God afresh for each day's supply.

As the result of God's judgment

The first plague on Egypt, which made the Nile smell bad:

Exodus 7:18,21 Isaiah 34:3; Amos 4:10

As a picture of the results of judgment

Isaiah 3:24; Isaiah 19:6; Joel 2:20

As a figurative cause of contempt or hatred

Genesis 34:30; Exodus 5:21

The word “offence” is from a Hebrew root-word meaning “to smell bad”:

1 Samuel 13:4; 2 Samuel 10:6 pp 1 Chronicles 19:6; 2 Samuel 16:21

Idols cannot smell

Psalm 115:4-6 See also Deuteronomy 4:28

See also

4490  ointment
4496  perfume
5171  nose
6142  decay
6206  offence
7386  incense
7402  offerings
7434  sacrifice
8768  idolatry