ὀσμ-ή G3744
Smell, fragrance, aroma; a scent perceived by the nose, especially a pleasing odor offered to God
The standard Greek word for any smell or odor, but in the NT it appears exclusively in positive, often cultic contexts. The phrase 'a fragrant aroma' (osme euodias) echoes the Old Testament idiom of a sacrifice whose scent pleases God. Paul applies this imagery to Christ's self-offering (Eph 5:2), to the Philippians' generous gift (Phil 4:18), and strikingly to the apostolic ministry itself as a 'fragrance of Christ' spreading the knowledge of God (2 Cor 2:14-16). John 12:3 provides the one non-metaphorical use: the house filled with the fragrance of Mary's costly nard.
Senses
1. smell, fragrance, aroma — A smell, fragrance, or aroma—used in the NT for pleasing scents, especially within the cultic metaphor of sacrifice acceptable to God. John 12:3 records the literal fragrance of nard filling the house at Bethany. Paul then develops the sacrificial metaphor: apostolic proclamation is 'the aroma of Christ' to God among both those being saved and those perishing (2 Cor 2:14-16), Christ's death is 'a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God' (Eph 5:2), and the Philippians' gift is 'a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice' (Phil 4:18). German 'Geruch,' French 'odeur,' and Spanish 'olor/fragancia' all capture the sensory dimension while the theological overtone comes from the sacrificial context. 6×
AR["رائِحَةَ", "رائِحَةُ", "رائِحَةِ", "رَائِحَةِ"]·ben["গন্ধ", "গন্ধের", "সুগন্ধ"]·DE["Geruch"]·EN["aroma", "fragrance", "smell"]·FR["odeur"]·heb["רֵיחַ"]·HI["सुगंध", "सुगनध"]·ID["bau", "keharuman"]·IT["odore", "osmes", "osmēn"]·jav["ambu", "ganda", "gandaning", "gandanipun"]·KO["냄새", "향기", "향기-의", "향기로", "향기를"]·PT["aroma", "cheiro", "perfume"]·RU["благоухание", "благоухания", "запах"]·ES["fragancia", "olor"]·SW["harufu"]·TR["gerçekten-", "kokusu", "kokusuna", "kokusundan", "o-"]·urd["بو", "خوشبو", "خوشبو-سے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὀσμ-ή, ἡ, Attic dialect form of the older ὀδμή (see. near the end), smell, odour, frequently of foul smells, δεινὴ δὲ θεείου γίγνεται ὀδμή Refs 8th c.BC+; πικρὸν ἀποπνείουσαι ἁλὸς.. ὀδμήν, of seals, Refs 8th c.BC+; ὀσμὴν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ (i.e. τοῦ νεκροῦ).. πεφευγότες Refs 5th c.BC+; but also of fragrant odours, ὡς καλὴν ὀσμὴν ἔχει Refs 5th c.BC+: hence, scent, perfume, Refs 5th c.BC+; on ὀ. as…