אֲבָקָה (a.va.qah)
a.va.qah
aromatic powder
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun aḇaqah refers to aromatic powders or scented dust used in the ancient Near East. It appears only once in the Bible, in Song of Solomon 3:6, where it describes the fragrant clouds rising from Solomon’s litter as he travels.
Lexical sources suggest this word likely denotes a collective term for merchant goods—specifically, fine scent-powders carried by traders. The image evokes luxury and sensory richness, painting a scene of perfumed air mingling with dust kicked up by the procession.
This single occurrence highlights how fragrance functioned as a marker of status and celebration in biblical times. The word itself does not appear elsewhere in Scripture, making its context in Song of Solomon all the more significant for understanding ancient cultural practices around perfume and honor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aḇaqah appears only once in Scripture, describing the fragrant clouds rising from Solomon’s procession in Song of Solomon 3:6. This rare term captures the sensory richness of ancient celebrations, where aromatic powders mingled with dust to create an atmosphere of honor and joy. It reminds us that beauty and fragrance are not merely decorative but can reflect the glory God places in our moments of celebration.
For your faith life, this image invites you to notice how God uses sensory details to draw attention to His goodness. Just as the spices marked a special occasion, your daily experiences—both ordinary and extraordinary—can become opportunities to recognize divine presence. You are invited to approach each day with an awareness of the beauty woven into creation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] scent-powder of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַבְקַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?
This verse uniquely uses aḇaqah to describe how myrrh and frankincense create fragrant smoke pillars, linking the word directly to royal honor and celebratory procession.