H5219 H5219
aromatic gum, spice (possibly tragacanth); trade commodity
This feminine noun designates an aromatic gum or spice, traditionally identified as tragacanth gum from the astragalus bush, though some scholars suggest it might be the flowering tops of another aromatic plant. Both occurrences list it among valuable trade goods and gifts. Joseph's brothers see a caravan carrying 'gum, balm, and myrrh' to Egypt (Gen 37:25). Later, Jacob tells his sons to take 'gum' along with honey, balm, nuts, and almonds as a gift to the Egyptian official (Gen 43:11)—not knowing it's Joseph.
Senses
1. sense 1 — These two Genesis passages show the spice's commercial and diplomatic value. In 37:25, Ishmaelite traders transport 'gum (nekot), balm (tzori), and myrrh (lot)' from Gilead to Egypt—a standard luxury commodity route. These are the very traders who will carry Joseph into slavery. In 43:11, the same three substances appear in Jacob's gift package for Egyptian negotiation, accompanied by honey, pistachios, and almonds. The repetition of the trio (gum, balm, myrrh) suggests this was a recognized set of Transjordanian exports. The exact botanical identification remains debated—whether tragacanth resin or aromatic flower tops—but the value as an aromatic trade good is clear across translations. 2×
AR["صَمْغًا", "كَثِيراءَ"]·ben["মশলা", "মসলা"]·DE["Tragakant"]·EN["gum"]·FR["gum"]·heb["נכאת"]·HI["गोंद"]·ID["rempah", "rempah-rempah"]·IT["gum"]·jav["bumbu", "rempah"]·KO["향료와"]·PT["especiarias"]·RU["благовоний", "благовония"]·ES["especias"]·SW["gum", "viungo"]·TR["baharat"]·urd["مصالحہ", "مصطکی"]
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
† נְכֹאת n.f. a spice, (usually understood of tragacanth gum, exuding from astralagus bush, Di Gn 27:25 and reff.; NowArch. i. 64 (and 249); cf. also Löw§ 24; but = Arabic نَكَأَة = نَكَعَة summitas rubicunda sive flores plantae (i.e. a certain plant, Frey), according to HomAufsätze 4);—abs. נ׳ Gn 37:25 (+ צְרִי, לֹט, as merchandise), 43:11 (+ id., also דְּבַשׁ, בָּטְנִים, שְׁקֵדִים, as gift).