Why is the frankincense smell important? The Hebrew word for this spice is “levona” which means white likely derived from its milky color. In Exodus, the Lord said to Moses: Wise men, or magi, visited Jesus Christ in Bethlehem when he was a year or two old. This was considered a pure and holy recipe containing sweet spices mixed with pure frankincense. While the advent of modern medicine dealt another blow to the market for frankincense and myrrh, some communities and alternative practitioners continue to prize the resins for their healing properties. According to the Hebrew Bible, frankincense and myrrh were components of the holy incense ritually burned in Jerusalem’s sacred temples during ancient times. It's also known as gum olibanum. “We have textual—and also archaeological—evidence that both frankincense and myrrh were used as medicinal substances in antiquity,” confirmed Alain Touwaide, a historian of medicine at the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to many other historical accounts, the famous Bible passage notes that frankincense was one of the three gifts brought by the Three Wise Men and given to baby Jesus. In Biblical times, hyssop grew in Egypt, in the desert of Sinai, and in Palestine.Today, it is … It was one of the ingredients God instructed the Israelites to use in making the pure and sacred incense blend for the most holy place in the tabernacle. Frankincense, which was often burned, symbolized prayer rising to the heavens like smoke, while myrrh, which was often used in embalming, symbolized death. 2:11. According to the Bible, Frankincense was a component of holy incense for worship to God. Myrrh is a fragrant spice derived from the sap of a tree native to the Near East. The mixture included equal parts of the sweet spices stacte, onycha, and galbanum, mixed with pure frankincense and seasoned with salt (Exodus 30:34). The Jews may have learned how to prepare it while they were slaves in Egypt before the Exodus. The hardened gum might be distilled to extract its aromatic oil for perfume, or crushed and burned as incense. This free audio Bible name pronunciation guide is a valuable tool in your study of God’s word. The ancient Egyptians bought entire boatloads of the resins from the Phoenicians, using them in incense, insect repellent, perfume and salves for wounds and sores; they were also key ingredients in the embalming process. The English word frankincense comes from a French expression meaning "free incense" or "free burning." What are frankincense and myrrh? Mark notes that when Jesus was dying on the cross , someone offered him wine mixed with myrrh to stop the pain, but he did not take it. Find out more about these healing gifts of the magi. By this time, medical practitioners had recognized and documented the substances’ antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, prescribing them for everything from indigestion and chronic coughs to hemorrhoids and bad breath. It burns for a long time, with a steady flame. Frankincense was probably used in Jesus’ burial in the tomb. For example, a 1996 paper reported that myrrh blunts pain in mice, while a 2009 study suggested that it might help lower cholesterol. Frankincense was poured on the bread as it lay there, being kept in a golden bowl alongside the table, together with other golden dishes and vessels for use in a drink offering. Because frankincense and myrrh can be collected from multiple Boswellia and Commiphora species, several different varieties are available. If these ancient remedies can indeed provide relief for the many patients who suffer from these potentially devastating illnesses, the great incense roads of antiquity may flourish once again. Both frankincense—also known as olibanum—and myrrh have been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for upwards of 5,000 years. Frankincense was used as a perfume and also for anointing and worship. Matthew states that the Three Kings visited the child Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense , and myrrh. FRANKINCENSE [SMITH] a vegetable resin, brittle, glittering, and of a bitter taste, used for the purpose of sacrificial fumigation. The primary purpose of anointing someone or something was to sanctify or set it apart as holy. When burned, it gave off a sweet-smelling fragrance. 12; When buying pure frankincense essential oil, check the label for its Latin name, Boswellia Carterii or Boswellia sacra. Frankincense is an ancient and fabled aromatic tree resin, which use as a fragrant perfume has been reported from a multitude of historical sources. Frankincense and myrrh are both tree resins. The wise men understood this. 15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the Lord. The Roman historian and botanist Pliny the Elder, who recommended frankincense as an antidote to hemlock poisoning, wrote in the first century A.D. that the pricey dried sap had made the southern Arabians the richest people on earth. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. What you may not know is that is one of the most… Since his ascension to heaven, Christ serves as high priest for believers, interceding for them with God the Father. Jesus was God incarnate or God in the flesh. Today, researchers like the Cardiff team are drawing on this centuries-old knowledge to develop modern treatments for a variety of disorders. Frankincense was a key part of the sacrifices to Yahweh in Old Testament worship. Incense is still used in some rites of the Roman Catholic Church. In ancient times, the harvester scraped a 5-inch long cut on the trunk of this evergreen tree, which grew near limestone rocks in the desert. Sacks of frankincense and potted saplings of myrrh-producing trees appear in murals decorating the walls of a temple dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for roughly two decades until her death around 480 B.C. Frankincense. It is believed to ease stress, improve heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, boost immune function, relieve pain, treat dry skin, reverse the signs of aging, fight cancer, as well many other health benefits. By God's command, if anyone used this compound as personal perfume, they were to be cut off from their people. (Exodus 30:34-36) It was called frankbecause of the freeness with which, when burned, it gives forth its odor. For more information about Frankincense , check out the Easton Bible dictionary entry as well. Frankincense is the king of the oils. Most of the references in the OT are instructions as to how and how not to use this scent (Lev 2:1; 5:11).In Song of Solomon 3:6 the references are to frankincense as perfume. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Early attempts to grow the trees in the Levant—and specifically in what is now Israel—failed, according to Touwaide. Frankincense (also known as olibanum, Persian: کندر ‎ , Hebrew: לבונה ‎ , Arabic: اللبان ‎ al-libān or Arabic: البخور ‎ al-bakhūr, Somali: Uunsi) is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes, obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae, particularly Boswellia sacra (syn. ( Exodus 30:34-36) It was called frank because of the freeness with which, when burned, it gives forth its odor. Frankincense is used for pain and swelling in people with various diseases. Does the Bible Actually Say 'Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness? Many popular natural toothpastes contain myrrh, which has proven beneficial to dental and gum health since ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans also imported massive amounts of the resins, which they burned as incense, used during cremations and took for a wide variety of ailments. No other oils ingredients should be listed. Gathering frankincense resin was a time-consuming process. Its perhaps best-known use is to create a permeating scent by burning crystalized pieces during rites … Since the early days of Christianity, Biblical scholars and theologians have offered varying interpretations of the meaning and significance of the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the magi presented to Jesus, according to the Gospel of Matthew (2:11). Frankincense, a vegetable resin, brittle, glittering, and of a bitter taste, used for the purpose of sacrificial fumigation. Frankincense was often burned as an incense, while myrrh made its way into medicine and perfume. Frankincense was used in ancient Israelite temple worship as:. The shrubby trees that produce them are native to the Arabian Peninsula and regions of northeast Africa, though Boswellia has also been cultivated in southern China. It was used as a primary component of the holy … All Rights Reserved. The fragrant gum resin obtained from balsam trees (Boswellia) can be ground into a powder and burned to produce a balsam-like odor. Though perhaps best known for their use in incense and ancient rituals, these substances—both of which boast proven antiseptic and inflammatory properties—were once considered effective remedies for everything from toothaches to leprosy. After 2-3 weeks, the frankincense resin is ready to be collected. A: Frankincense is mentioned 17 times in the Bible (15 OT, 2 NT) (plus called “incense” in 6 other verses). Maintains Oral Health. Frankincense essential oil mixed with pure Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Israel Frankincense was commonly used in the Tabernacle—we find it in the grain offerings, it was burned on the golden altar and even used to sprinkle on the show breads. Frankincense was a precious spice with great significance and worth in ancient times. Frankincense was a key part of worship in the Old Testament and a costly gift brought to the baby Jesus. It was a resin obtained from Boswellia trees, one of the most highly valued incense gums with a beautiful fragrance of balsam. It is then used to add aroma to many perfumes or it is used in aromatherapy. Easily, the most famous mention is that it was one of 3 presents that the wise men presented to the child Jesus (Mt 2:11). What oils are used for anointing? Cleopatra is said to have used frankincense oil, in conjunction with geranium oil, as a skin treatment. According to the Hebrew Bible, frankincense and myrrh were components of the holy incense ritually burned in Jerusalem’s sacred temples during ancient times. FRANKINCENSE (לְבֹנָה, H4247; κίβανος).Frankincense occurs fourteen times in the OT and twice in the NT. For instance, both are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and aromatherapy. In the Bible, Frankincense is often associated with myrrh, another expensive spice that features prominently in Scripture (Song of Solomon 3:6; Matthew 2:11). Hyssop. Once considered priceless, the ancient remedies frankincense and myrrh are drawing new attention from medical researchers. Frankincense was used in the temple routines, burned ceremonially by the priests. In antiquity, writes Cotton, these saps were worth just as … The holy anointing oil described in Exodus was made with myrrh, sweet cinnamon, calamus, cassia and olive oil. At the time Jesus is thought to have been born, frankincense and myrrh may have been worth more than their weight in the third gift presented by the wise men: gold But despite their significance in the New Testament, the substances fell out of favor in Europe with the rise of Christianity and fall of the Roman Empire, which essentially obliterated the thriving trade routes that had developed over many centuries. Click the PLAY button below to hear how to pronounce Frankincense . Its smoke symbolizes the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven. Frankincense is the gum or resin of the Boswellia tree, used for making perfume and incense. The leaking resin is allowed to harden and scraped off the trunk in tear-shaped droplets; it may then be used in its dried form or steamed to yield essential oils. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In a series of clinical and laboratory studies over the last two decades, frankincense and myrrh have shown promise in addressing a number of common disorders. Both substances are edible and often chewed like gum. Frankincense tree in Dhofar mountain, Oman What is Frankincense used for? To harvest the smell and oils, frankincense is boiled. The Bible records myrrh showing up three times in the life and death of Jesus Christ. The harvester would return and scrape the crystals off, and also collect the less pure resin that had dripped down the trunk onto a palm leaf placed on the ground. And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering. In Exodus, the Lord said to Moses: “Gather fragrant spices—resin droplets, mollusk shell, and galbanum—and mix these fragrant spices with pure frankincense, weighed out in equal amounts. Frankincense may help prevent bad breath, toothaches, cavities and mouth … © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. So scholars think that frankincense was presented to the infant Jesus to symbolize his later role as a high priest for believers while myrrh symbolized his later death and burial. In ancient times, frankincense was used … The gift of frankincense is said to have been an acknowledgement of Jesus’ priesthood, setting him apart from a typical king. What Does the Bible Say About Burning Sage? Gift of, Matt. Regularly marketed as the king of essential oils, frankincense has been sought after since ancient times, and for good reason. The event is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, which also tells of their gifts: Only the book of Matthew records this episode of the Christmas story. Frankincense was a very expensive substance because it was collected in remote parts of Arabia, North Africa, and India and had to be transported long distances by caravan. It was not native to that region, however, so obtaining frankincense … Leviticus 2:16 | View whole chapter | See verse in context And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it … Life and death of Jesus Christ or crushed and burned as incense use frankincense in can! Magi from the east brought frankincense as one of the freeness with which, when burned, it gives its! Bible dictionary entry as well Cardiff team are drawing on this centuries-old knowledge to develop modern for. Sometimes called olibanum ) oil upon it, and Numbers the Father updates! 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