H7102 H7102
Cassia, an aromatic bark similar to cinnamon used in perfumes and sacred oil
A fragrant spice derived from tree bark, related to cinnamon and valued in the ancient world for perfumery. In Psalm 45, cassia scents the royal robes alongside myrrh and aloes, creating an atmosphere of luxury and celebration at a royal wedding. This psalm, traditionally understood as messianic, uses the finest aromatics to portray the king's majesty and attractiveness. Cassia was also an ingredient in the sacred anointing oil for priests and tabernacle furnishings. The Greek and Latin words for cassia derive from the Hebrew, showing how this eastern spice entered Mediterranean trade and vocabulary.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Appears only in Psalm 45:8 describing the fragrance of royal garments, listed with myrrh and aloes. The term derives from a root related to cutting or peeling bark. English, Spanish, French, and German all use cognates of 'cassia,' borrowed ultimately from Hebrew through Greek and Latin. The spice was prized for perfume and sacred uses, though some scholars suggest textual emendation, questioning whether all three aromatics fit the poetic meter. 1×
AR["وَالقِسْعَةُ"]·ben["দারুচিনি"]·DE["cassia"]·EN["cassia"]·FR["casse"]·heb["קציעות"]·HI["केशिया"]·IT["[קציעות]"]·jav["kasia"]·KO["육계나무-가"]·PT["cássia"]·RU["кассия"]·ES["casia"]·SW["na-kasia"]·TR["akasya"]·urd["تج"]
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
† I. [קְצִיעָה] n.f. cassia, a powdered bark, like cinnamon (hence Gk. κασία, Lat. casia, LewyFremdw. 37);—pl. קְצִיעוֹת (מֹר וַאֲהָלוֹת) ψ 45:9 (Che now תּוּצַק are shed, v. in Ency. Bib. Cassia, n.).