מִרְקַ֫חַת (mir.qa.chat)
mir.qa.chat
ointment
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mirqaḥat refers to a thick, blended substance, typically understood as an ointment or unguent. Its root suggests something that is mixed or compounded, pointing to the careful preparation of ingredients rather than a single raw material. In the biblical text, this word appears in contexts involving sacred rituals and royal preparations, highlighting its value and specific purpose.
Occurrences are concentrated in the historical books and the Torah, particularly in Chronicles and Exodus. For instance, it describes the spiced oils used in the construction of the tabernacle furnishings or the perfumed mixtures prepared for kings. The term can also denote the vessel itself—the pot or container holding this precious blend—depending on the immediate context of the passage.
This word underscores the importance of sensory detail in ancient worship and court life. The blending of spices was not merely cosmetic but symbolic, representing purity, honor, and divine presence. Translators often render it as "ointment" or "spiced oil," capturing both the substance and its ritual significance without reducing it to a simple commodity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mirqaḥat describes a carefully blended ointment, created by mixing distinct spices into a unified whole. This process mirrors how God often works in our lives, taking separate experiences and shaping them into something purposeful and beautiful. Just as the artisans of old did not use raw materials alone but crafted a sacred blend for the tabernacle, your own life is being prepared with intention.
In ancient times, this precious mixture honored kings and consecrated holy spaces. It reminds us that we are valued and set apart. The effort put into creating such a scent reflects the care God takes in forming you. You are not an accident but a deliberate creation, prepared for meaningful service and deep connection with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- as/ ointment of1×
- an ointment-pot1×
- <of> the/ mixture1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִרְקַ֖חַת1×
- הַ/מִּרְקַ֖חַת1×
- בְּ/מִרְקַ֣חַת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 30:25
You shall make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil.
This verse defines the precise method of compounding spices into holy oil, establishing the ritual standard for mirqaḥat.
-
I Chronicles 9:30
Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.
Here the term refers to the specific task of preparing these spice mixtures, highlighting the dedicated role of priests in worship.
-
II Chronicles 16:14
They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David’s city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.
This occurrence shows the use of such ointments in royal burial rites, signifying honor and the preservation of memory through sweet odors.