ALVIN JOHNSON looks at Biblical mentions of the spice plant…
The foliage of Cinnamomum verum. PICTURE: H Zell (licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)
Qinnamon is mentioned three times in the Old Testament. It is thought to refer to the common cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum also called Cinnamomum zeylanicum) which was originally from Sri Lanka (although it should be noted that some, such as F Nigel Hepper in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Biblical Plants, urge caution in accepting the identification of qinnamon as Cinnamomum zeylanicum because it presupposes a highly organised spice trade).
Exodus 30 refers to qinnamon being used in the making of the sacred anointing oil.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant qinnamon [cinnamon], 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia – all according to the sanctuary shekel – and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.'” – Exodus 30: 22-25.
In the Song of Solomon, qinnamon is listed amongst other spices and incense.
“Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, calamus and qinnamon [cinnamon], with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.” – Song of Solomon 4:14
Cinnamon sticks. PICTURE: Rens D/Unsplash
It was used to perfume beds. However, in this example it was perfumed by the seductive adulteress.
“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and qinnamon [cinnamon].” – Proverbs 7:17.
This is an edited excerpt from Alvin Johnson’s iBook ‘Biblical Flora’, 2017. The book is available for free download on iTunes. A teacher’s edition is also available for purchase.
