H5198b H5198b
stacte — an aromatic gum resin used in sacred incense, gathered as drops
Stacte was one of four ingredients God commanded for the sacred incense in the tabernacle. The name relates to 'drops,' suggesting a resin that oozes or drips from plants. Its exact botanical identity is uncertain—possibilities include myrrh-related resins, storax, or balsam. Ancient versions transliterated or used 'stacte,' a Greek term for aromatic drops. The inclusion in sacred incense indicates it was precious and fragrant, part of the restricted formula for worship at God's dwelling place.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A masculine noun in Exodus 30:34 identifying one of four ingredients for the sacred incense. God commands Moses: 'Take sweet spices—stacte, and onycha, and galbanum—sweet spices with pure frankincense.' The Hebrew נָטָף is related to 'dripping' or 'drops,' suggesting a resin collected as it exudes from plants. Exact botanical identification is uncertain: suggestions include a myrrh variety (Greek στακτή, Latin stacte), storax resin, or opobalsamum. Rabbinic tradition identified it with balsam sap. The word emphasizes the substance's liquid or semi-liquid form when harvested. 1×
AR["مَيعَةً"]·ben["নটাফ"]·DE["Stakte"]·EN["stacte"]·FR["stacte"]·heb["נטף"]·HI["नाटा"]·ID["getah-damar"]·IT["stacte"]·jav["blendok-getihing"]·KO["소합향과"]·PT["estoraque"]·RU["стакти"]·ES["estácte"]·SW["ubani"]·TR["sakız"]·urd["نطاف"]
Related Senses
H8081 1. oil (substance) (180×)H3196 1. wine (fermented grape juice) (141×)H1706 1. honey (54×)H4682 1. unleavened bread/cakes (53×)H2461 1. milk (42×)H8492 1. new wine / must (38×)H0400 1. food, nourishment (36×)G3631 1. wine (34×)H3978 1. food, nourishment (30×)H1314 1. spice / perfume / balsam (29×)H7416 1. pomegranate (fruit/ornament) (28×)H3323 1. fresh oil, olive oil (23×)H2964 1. prey, torn flesh (19×)H3899 2. food, sustenance (19×)G1033 1. food (17×)G5160 1. food (16×)H5561 1. spices, aromatic substances (16×)H0402 1. food, nourishment (14×)G2219 1. leaven (13×)H4478a 1. manna (13×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. נָטָף n.[m.] an odorif. gum (gathered in drops), used in sacred incense Ex 30:34 (P). Identif. dub.; 𝔊 στακτή, 𝔙 stacte, i.e. (Hesych.) a kind of myrrh, so Kn, cf. RiHWB; Rosenm Thes Ke al. storax; Rabb. opobalsamum (cf. Di ad loc. NowArch. ii. 64, 248).