Seasons of Faith

Herbs and Spices in the Bible

Herbs and spices can be found in nearly every book of the Bible. They played a significant role during biblical times, and it was important to have good knowledge of what they were used for. Below are some examples of spices in the Bible.

Perfume for the Temple of Jerusalem

“Now I am about to build a temple for the name of the Lord my God and to dedicate it to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals of the Lord our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel” (2 Chron. 2:4 NIV).

Calamus, Frankincense, and Myrrh to Make the Home Fragrant

“The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved” (Song of Songs 7:13 NIV).

Basil, Chervil, Cumin, Coriander, Dill, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Poppy Seed, Savory and Tarragon to season food and drink

“I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.” (Song of Songs 8:2, NIV).

Hyssop used for Cleansing and Religious Rituals

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7 NIV).

People have been using herbs for thousands of years for medicinal benefits. The Aloe Vera plant mentioned in the bible in Numbers 24:6, was used to heal conditions like burns, wounds, and skin irritations. Aloe was also used in Biblical times to embalm the dead and, in perfume.

Balm (balsam) also has healing properties. Balm is mentioned in the bible in Jeremiah 8:22, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” Balm is a very fragrant substance that was taken from the balsam tree. In the biblical times, balsam was unbelievably valuable. The gum was used for incense, while the oil that came from the bark, the leaves and the berries worked as medicine.

Cassia oil was an extremely popular anointing oil in the Bible (Exodus 30:24-25). The smell of Cassia is remarkably like that of cinnamon. The word Cassia comes from the Hebrew word, “kadad” or “ketzi’ot” which means to bow the head, to stoop or strip off. This oil is a clear picture of humility and is one of four fragrant components in the Holy Anointing Oil. The fragrance of Cassia reminds us to honor others and follow the example of Jesus who gave His life for us. The oil is an example of humility, pride being stripped away, and a servant heart emerging from the life of a person. Today, Cassia can be used as natural hair care, coloring, and conditioning. The leaves are harvested, dried, and ground into a powder that is used for hair care.

There are so many different herbs and spices spoken about the Bible, take time to discuss others. For more information on spices of the Bible go to: https://www.womanofnoblecharacter.com/spices-in-the-bible/

Create an Herb Garden

The best thing about an herb garden, is that you can benefit from it all year long. For information on how to plant an herb garden, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG4v_qJV-KI or you can reference this article: https://bonnieplants.com/blogs/garden-fundamentals/how-to-grow-an-herb-garden

A Beautiful Garden

In the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in a beautiful garden, called the Garden of Eden, to work and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). Adam and Eve tended and ate from the garden. The garden provided everything they needed. When you think of the Garden of Eden, what comes to mind? What flowers and herbs do you see? When you walk around, what do you smell? What do you taste? As you rub them between your fingers, how do they feel? I imagine the Garden of Eden to be the most beautiful place, full of millions of colors, so delightful beyond human words to describe.

The Garden of Eden was also a place where Adam and Eve walked with God. Genesis 3:8a says, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Can you imagine walking and talking with God in the garden? What a beautiful picture of relationship and comfort. Spending time with God is like meeting with Him in the garden of our lives. God wants us to tend to the soil of our garden, removing the weeds that try pull us away from Him. He wants us to be planted on good soil. Luke 8:15 says, “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

The Garden of Eden is a place where God met with men. It was a place of perfection and beauty. God has given each of us a garden, where He wants to meet with us. Close your eyes for a moment and think about all the senses of being in a garden. What would it be like to walk and talk with Him, allowing Him to help you grow to be more like Him? You can do this daily by finding a quiet place and spending time in prayer. Sometimes, we are so busy telling the Lord about our problems, that we neglect to be quiet and listen to what He wants to tell us. Open the scriptures and let Him speak to you through His Word. Worship Him by listening to songs that feed your soul. Enjoy your walk in His garden with Him.

Close in prayer.