בָּשָׂם
𐤁𐤔𐤌
bâsâm
H1313 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fragrant resin or aromatic substance, especially associated with plants producing perfume or incense; most commonly refers to balsam or other gum-resin yielding plants. In biblical usage, denotes a precious aromatic product valued for its scent, sometimes translated as 'balm' or 'spice.'
Semantic Range
fragrant resin, aromatic plant, balsam, spice, perfume substance, gum-resin
Root / Etymology
Derived from a presumed but unattested root meaning 'to be fragrant'; possibly related to סַם (sam, 'perfume, spice') as indicated by the similarity in form and semantic field. The actual root is not used elsewhere in biblical Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בָּשָׂם (bâsâm) appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, mainly in the context of valuable spices or aromas (e.g., Genesis 43:11; Ezekiel 27:22). Its precise botanical identification is uncertain, but traditionally it has been connected with the balsam tree or various aromatic gum-resins extracted from trees or shrubs growing in the Levant. In later periods, the word was associated with the Judean balsam (Commiphora gileadensis or related species), a lucrative product in Second Temple and Greco-Roman times. English translations often render it as 'balm' or 'spice,' possibly narrowing its semantic range. The term is distinct from צֳרִי (tzori), which more specifically refers to the medicinal 'balm of Gilead.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to be fragrant; (compare סַם); the balsam plant; spice.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בשׂם (b-s-m) — fragrance, emitting scent, aromatic substance
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1315 | בׇּשְׂמַת | Fragrant One |
| H3005 | יִבְשָׂם | And Fragrant-One |
| H4017 | מִבְשָׂם | Fragrant One |
| H7643 | שְׂבָם | Sibmah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1313-01 |
בְּשָׂמִ֔/י | besami | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my spice | my fragrant resin | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1313-01 |
Song of Songs 5:1 | בְּשָׂמִ֔/י | besami | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my spice | my fragrant resin |