Category:Spikenard

Spike"nard, n.Etym: [for spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde, nl. spica Nardi. See spike an ear, and nard.]

1. (bot.)

Defn: an aromatic plant. In the united states it is the aralia Racemosa, often called spignet, and used as a medicine. The spikenard Of the ancients is the nardostachys jatamansi, a native of the Himalayan region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is Still prepared in india.

2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the nardostachys jatamansi.

-

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Spikenard - (Heb. nerd ), a much-valued perfume (Song of Songs 1:12; Song of Songs 4:13, Song of Songs 4:14). It was "very precious", i.e., very costly (Mark 14:3; John 12:3, John 12:5). It is the root of an Indian plant, the Nardostachys jatamansi, of the family of Valeriance, growing on the Himalaya mountains. It is distinguished by its having many hairy spikes shooting out from one root. It is called by the Arabs sunbul Hindi, "the Indian spike." In the New Testament this word is the rendering of the Greek nardos pistike. The margin of the Revised Category:Version in these passages has "pistic nard," pistic being perhaps a local name. Some take it to mean genuine, and others liquid. The most probable opinion is that the word pistike designates the nard as genuine or faithfully prepared.