Cinnamon
קִנָּמוֹן (kinnamon)
Plant food — the dietary laws of Leviticus 11 concern animals
Would you eat it?
Mentioned in 4 verses (KJV)
Description
Cinnamon had to travel a long way to reach Israel, imported along ancient spice routes from Arabia or further east, which made it one of the most expensive ingredients a household could own. It scented the tabernacle’s holy anointing oil and, elsewhere, a seductress’s bed.
Key verses
“Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,”
Exodus 30:23
“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”
Proverbs 7:17
Fun fact
Cinnamon was rare and costly enough in the ancient world to be one of the few spices named as an ingredient in the sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:23-25).
All 4 referencesshow
- Exodus 30:23
- Proverbs 7:17
- Revelation 18:13
- Song of Solomon 4:14