H6875 H6875
Balm, aromatic healing resin from Gilead; traded as merchandise and used metaphorically for spiritual remedy.
An aromatic resin or balm, probably from the mastic or balsam tree, closely associated with the region of Gilead. Traded as a valuable commodity — the Ishmaelite caravan carrying Joseph to Egypt bore tsori among its wares (Gen 37:25), and Jacob sent it as a gift to the Egyptian ruler (Gen 43:11). In Jeremiah, the balm of Gilead becomes one of Scripture's most memorable metaphors: 'Is there no balm in Gilead?' (Jer 8:22) — a rhetorical question lamenting that spiritual healing is available yet refused. Ezekiel 27:17 lists it among Judah's exports to Tyre.
Senses
1. balm, healing resin — An aromatic resin or balm, valued for its medicinal and healing properties, produced in or associated with Gilead. English 'balm,' Spanish 'bálsamo,' and French 'baume' all point to a fragrant medicinal substance. It appears as a trade good in the patriarchal narratives (Gen 37:25, carried by Ishmaelite merchants; Gen 43:11, sent as a gift to Egypt) and among Judah's exports to Tyre (Ezek 27:17). Its most theologically resonant use is in Jeremiah's lament: 'Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?' (Jer 8:22; cf. 46:11; 51:8), where the physical remedy becomes a metaphor for spiritual healing that remains tragically unapplied. 6×
AR["أَلَيْسَ-بَلَسَانٌ", "بَلَسَانًا", "بَلَسَانٍ", "وَ-صَمْغَ", "وَبَلَسَانٍ"]·ben["আর-গুগ্গুল", "আর-মলমে", "কি-মলম", "গুগ্গুলু", "বলসান", "মলম"]·DE["Balsam", "[הצרי]", "[וצרי]", "[צרי]", "und-Balsam"]·EN["Is-there-no-balm", "and-balm", "balm"]·FR["[הצרי]", "[צרי]", "baume", "et-baume"]·heb["ה-צרי", "ו-צורי", "ו-צרי", "צורי", "צרי"]·HI["और-बलसान", "क्या-बलसान", "बलसान"]·ID["apakah-balsam", "balsam", "dan-balsam", "dan-damar"]·IT["[וצרי]", "balsamo", "e-balsamo"]·jav["Lenga-wangi", "balsam", "balsem", "lan-balsam", "lan-balsem"]·KO["그리고-유향과", "그리고-유향을", "유향과", "유향을", "유향이인가"]·PT["Bálsamo", "bálsamo", "e-bálsamo"]·RU["бальзам", "бальзам-ли", "бальзама", "и-бальзам", "и-бальзамом"]·ES["bálsamo", "y-bálsamo", "¿Acaso-bálsamo"]·SW["chamomile", "je-balm", "na-zeri", "zeri"]·TR["merhem", "merhem-mi", "pelesenk", "ve-balsamla", "ve-merhem"]·urd["اور-بلسان", "بلسان", "کیا-بلسان"]
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
† צֳרִי (Gn 37:25) (וּ)צְרִי, צֹ֑רִי Ez 27:17 n.[m.] a kind of balsam, as merchandise Gn 37:25 (J), gift Gn 43:11 (J), medicament Je 8:22; 46:11; 51:8 (for national disaster, in fig.);—ThDyer-M’Lean in Ency. Bib.Balm think a resin, like (not necess. =) gum of mastic-tree, pistacia lentiscus (otherwise PostHastings DB).