Greek word · G3395

μίγμα

migma

mixture

A mixture or compound of several substances. It is used of medicines and perfume blends.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μίγμα (LT, cl., μῖγμα; on the orthogr., see B1., § 3, 5), -τος, τό

(μίγνυμι), [in LXX: Sirach 38:8 * ;]

a mixture: John 19:39 (ἕλιγμα, WH, R, mg.).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 19:39

Range of meaning

A mixture or compound of several substances. It is used of medicines and perfume blends.

Against the English

"Mixture" is fine. The NLT's "perfumed ointment" makes it a liquid, which the Greek does not say.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare in the Greek Bible. Sirach 38:7 uses the related verb of the perfumer making a compound (μύρεψος... ποιήσει μεῖγμα). Some early manuscripts read ἕλιγμα, "a roll/package".

Where it appears

John · 1

  1. John 19:39 μίγμα a mixture

    Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

    Here: A blend of ingredients, here most likely dry, powdered aromatics combined for burial. It appears only here in the New Testament, and some early manuscripts read a different word (see variants).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.