חֶלְבְּנָה (chel.be.nah)
chel.be.nah
galbanum
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun chelbenah refers to galbanum, a specific aromatic resin used in ancient times. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only once, in Exodus 30:34, where it is listed as a key ingredient for the sacred incense burned in the Tabernacle.
This substance was likely a gum or sap derived from a plant, valued for its strong, pungent scent. Its inclusion alongside frankincense and other spices highlights the complexity of the holy mixture, suggesting that even harsh or bitter-smelling elements had a place in worship when combined with others.
Translators typically render chelbenah as "galbanum" to preserve this specific botanical reference, rather than using a generic term like "resin." This precision reminds readers that the incense was not merely symbolic smoke but involved real, tangible materials gathered from the earth, each contributing to the overall aroma offered before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chelbenah refers to galbanum, a pungent resin used in the sacred incense of the Tabernacle. Its single appearance in Exodus 30:34 highlights that worship involved real, tangible materials from the earth. This specific ingredient, with its strong scent, was mixed with sweeter spices like frankincense to create a complex aroma offered before God.
This detail reminds us that our own lives, with all their varied experiences, can be part of something holy. Just as galbanum contributed to the sacred blend, every aspect of our journey has value when brought into communion with the divine. We are invited to offer our whole selves, not just the pleasant parts, in faithful service.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ galbanum1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/חֶלְבְּנָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 30:34
Yahweh said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum: sweet spices with pure frankincense. There shall be an equal weight of each.
This verse lists galbanum as a key ingredient for the sacred incense, showing its essential role in the Tabernacle worship.