H7543 H7543
To mix or compound ointments and spices; as a participle, a professional perfumer or ointment-maker.
A verb meaning to mix or compound aromatic oils and ointments, central to the preparation of the sacred anointing oil in Exodus. In participial form it functions as a professional title: the 'perfumer' or 'ointment-compounder' who blends the holy incense and oil. The Spanish 'perfumador' and 'mezcladores' capture both the craft and the professional role. Ecclesiastes 10:1 extends the image memorably: dead flies make the perfumer's ointment stink -- a wisdom saying that turns the perfumer's art into a metaphor for how small corruptions ruin great effort.
Senses
1. mix, compound ointment/spices — To mix or compound sacred ointments and aromatic spices, and by extension the professional who performs this craft. In Exodus 30:25, 33, 35 and 37:29 (all Priestly source), the verb describes the compounding of the holy anointing oil and incense according to divine prescription; 1 Chronicles 9:30 uses the participial plural 'compounders of the ointment' for Levitical specialists. Spanish 'perfumador' and 'mezcladores de' reflect both the action and the trade. Ecclesiastes 10:1 uses the participle in a proverbial context -- dead flies spoil the perfumer's oil -- extending the term from sacred craft to everyday wisdom about corruption. 8×
AR["خَالِطُو", "رُوقِيحَ", "عَطّارٍ", "مَمْزُوجَةٍ", "وَاطْبُخِ", "يُرَكِّبُ"]·ben["এবং-মশলা-মেশাও", "গন্ধকারের", "গন্ধতৈরিকারীর", "প্রস্তুত-করা", "মশলা-প্রস্তুতকারকরা", "মেশাবে", "সুগন্ধি-প্রস্তুতকারকের"]·DE["Salbenmischer", "[והרקח]", "[מרקחים]", "[רוקח]", "[רקחי]", "compounder", "compounds"]·EN["and-mix", "compounded", "compounder", "compounds", "mixers-of", "perfumer", "the-perfumer"]·FR["[מרקחים]", "[רקחי]", "compounder", "compounds", "et-parfumer", "perfumer", "רוקח"]·heb["ו-הרקח", "ירקח", "מרקחים", "רוקח", "רקחי"]·HI["इत्र-बनाने-वाला", "इत्र-बनाने-वाले", "इत्र-बनानेवाले-की", "बनानेवाले", "मिलाए", "मिश्रित", "सुगंधिये-का"]·ID["dan-campurkanlah", "mencampur", "pembuat-pembuat-campuran", "tukang-campur", "tukang-rempah", "yang-dicampur"]·IT["[והרקח]", "[מרקחים]", "[רקחי]", "compounder", "compounds", "il-perfumer", "profumiere"]·jav["ingkang-dipunracik", "lan-bumbuha", "ngracik", "tukang-ngrakit", "tukang-racik", "tukang-tamba.", "tukang-wewangi"]·KO["그리고-양념하여라", "만드는", "만드는-자들-의", "제조자-의", "향료-만드는-자의", "혼합된"]·PT["e-tempera", "misturadas", "misturar", "perfumista", "preparadores-de"]·RU["и-приготовь", "мироварщика;", "смешанными", "смешивающие", "составит", "составителя", "составителя-благовоний"]·ES["mezcladas", "mezcladores-de", "perfumador", "perfumista", "prepare", "y-condimenta"]·SW["atachanganya", "manukato", "na-changanya", "vilivyochanganywa", "wachanganya", "ya-mchanganyaji", "ya-mtengenezaji-wa-manukato"]·TR["baharatcı", "karıştıranları", "karıştırılmış", "karıştırırsa", "parfumcu", "parfumcunun", "ve-karıştır"]·urd["اور-مصالحہ-ڈال", "بنائے-گا", "بنائے-ہوئے", "بنانے-والے", "عطار-کا"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [רָקַח] vb. mix, or compound oil, ointment (perhaps denom.; in this case √ meaning unknown; NH has מִרְקַחַת ointment; Ph. רקח either spice-mixer (Bloch) or spice-dealer (Lzb); perhaps akin to Assyrian riḳḳu, spice, MeissnSuppl. 90, cf. rikkê, DlHWB 620);— Qal Impf. 3 ms. יִרְקַח Ex 30:33; Pt. רֹקֵחַ v 25, 35, רוֹ׳ 37:29 Ec 10:1; pl. cstr. רֹקְחֵי 1 Ch 9:30;—mix, compound, Ex 30:33 (P;…