Greek word · G3487

νάρδος

nardos

nard

Nardos is spikenard oil, made from the rhizome (root) of Nardostachys jatamansi, which grows in the Himalayas. It reached the Mediterranean through Indian and Arabian trade. Pistikos is very rare and its meaning is debated. a pistachio-related word).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

νάρδος, -ου, ἡ

(Heb. נֵרְדְּ, both from Sanscrit narda, see Boisacq, see word), [in LXX: Song of Songs 1:12 4:13-14 (נֵרְדְּ)* ;]

nard;

(a) an Indian plant, the Nardostachys nardus jatamansi, used for the preparation of a fragrant ointment;

(b) ointment of nard: Mark 14:3, John 12:3.†

(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 12:3

Range of meaning

Nardos is spikenard oil, made from the rhizome (root) of Nardostachys jatamansi, which grows in the Himalayas. It reached the Mediterranean through Indian and Arabian trade. Pistikos is very rare and its meaning is debated. It may mean 'genuine/trustworthy' (from pistis, 'faith, reliability'), 'liquid/drinkable' (from pinō, 'drink'), or be a trade or plant name (e.g. a pistachio-related word).

Against the English

Most modern versions read 'pure nard', taking the 'genuine' view. KJV 'spikenard' comes through the Latin nardus spicata (Mark 14:3 Vulgate, 'spiked nard'), which describes the plant's spike-like root. It does not translate pistikos at all.

Used elsewhere in the period

Song 1:12 in the Septuagint: 'my nard gave its fragrance' while the king reclined. Pliny (Natural History, book 12) prices nard at up to about 100 denarii a pound and complains that it was routinely adulterated with a cheaper 'false nard'. That makes 'genuine' a plausible label a merchant would use. The same phrase appears in Mark 14:3.

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 14:3 νάρδου of nard

    While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

    Here: Nard, an aromatic from the root of a Himalayan plant that reached the Mediterranean by long trade routes. It was among the most expensive perfumes in the Roman world.

John · 1

  1. John 12:3 νάρδου of nard

    Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

    Here: Nard, an aromatic oil made from the root of a Himalayan plant (Nardostachys jatamansi). It was imported over long distances and was among the most prized perfumes in the Roman world.

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