σμυρνίζω (smurnizō)
smurnizō
to mix with myrrh
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The rare verb smurnizō literally means to mix or flavor with myrrh. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Mark 15:23, where soldiers offer Jesus wine mixed with myrrh before his crucifixion. This specific action reflects a common ancient practice of infusing wine with aromatic resins to enhance its taste.
Myrrh was valued for its sweet scent and potential pain-relieving properties. By offering this mixture, the sellers may have intended to dull Jesus’ senses or simply provide a more palatable drink. The word itself derives from smyrna (myrrh), highlighting the direct ingredient involved in the preparation.
Though uncommon, this term captures a small but poignant detail of the Passion narrative. It reminds readers that even in moments of profound suffering, ordinary human interactions and customs continue. The use of smurnizō here adds texture to the scene, grounding the theological weight of the cross in tangible, historical reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb smurnizō appears just once in the New Testament, describing how soldiers mixed wine with myrrh before offering it to Jesus on the cross. This was a common practice in the ancient world, where aromatic resins were added to drinks either to improve their taste or to provide a mild numbing effect for those facing pain.
In Mark 15:23, this detail grounds the Passion narrative in tangible reality. It shows that even in Jesus’ darkest hour, ordinary customs and human interactions continued around Him. The offer was likely intended to dull His senses, yet He refused it, fully embracing the suffering ahead with clear awareness.
This small historical note reminds us that faith does not exist in a vacuum. Even amidst profound pain, God is present in the details of our lives. We can find comfort knowing that Christ understood human frailty and chose to walk through it completely, offering us hope through His willingness to endure.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- mixed with myrrh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐσμυρνισμένον1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 15:23
They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.
This is the only occurrence of smurnizō in the New Testament, highlighting Jesus' refusal to take the numbing wine mixed with myrrh during His crucifixion.