κινάμωμον
kinámōmon
G2792 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Cinnamon; an aromatic spice obtained from the inner bark of certain trees of the genus Cinnamomum, used for fragrance, spice, incense, or medicinal purposes. In Hellenistic and Roman contexts, refers specifically to imported cinnamon, renowned for its value and rarity; also used metaphorically to denote something fragrant or luxurious.
Semantic Range
cinnamon; aromatic bark used as a spice or perfume; rare, expensive imported commodity; ingredient in sacred and luxury perfumes or incense
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Semitic languages (compare Hebrew קִנָּמוֹן [qinnāmōn], possibly via Phoenician or Aramaic into Greek).
Historical & Contextual Notes
κινάμωμον appears in Greek literature as a loanword for cinnamon, a highly prized commodity in antiquity imported to the Mediterranean from South or Southeast Asia. Its earliest appearances are in late Classical or Hellenistic sources, where it is referenced as a luxury item, and as an ingredient in incense or perfumed oils. In the Septuagint and New Testament, κινάμωμον specifically designates the aromatic spice known today as cinnamon, paralleling the Hebrew qinnāmōn. In these contexts, it occurs in descriptions of trade goods, luxury items, and ingredients in sacred or costly anointing oils. English Bible translations typically render the term as 'cinnamon'; however, in antiquity, κινάμωμον may have referred not only to Cinnamomum verum (true cinnamon), but also to related, similarly fragrant spices due to the lack of precise botanical distinctions in the period. The term is distinct from κάσσια (cassia), though both are related aromatic barks mentioned in trade and cultic recipes.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign origin (compare קִנָּמוֹן); cinnamon:--cinnamon.
Root Family
κινωμ-/κινάμωμ- (kinámōmon) — cinnamon, aromatic bark, spice
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2792-01 |
κιννάμωμον | kinnamomon | N ACC N SG |
cinnamon | cinnamon (aromatic spice) | cinnamon (aromatic spice) | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2792-01 |
Revelation 18:13 | κιννάμωμον | kinnamomon | N ACC N SG |
cinnamon | cinnamon (aromatic spice) | cinnamon (aromatic spice) |