קִנָּמוֹן (qin.na.mon)
qin.na.mon
cinnamon
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word qinnāmôn refers to cinnamon, a fragrant spice derived from the dried inner bark of a tree. In the Old Testament, it appears only three times, always in contexts that highlight luxury, sacredness, or royal wisdom. Its presence signals something precious and rare, imported from distant lands rather than grown locally.
It is used in the holy anointing oil prescribed in Exodus 30:23, mixed with myrrh and calamus to consecrate priests and objects. This usage underscores its value as a material fit for divine service. It also appears in Song of Solomon 4:14, where it contributes to the scent of the beloved’s garden, and in Proverbs 7:17, describing the bedchamber perfumed with spices to entice the unwary visitor.
As a foreign loanword, qinnāmôn likely entered Hebrew alongside the spice itself from regions east of Israel. Its brevity in Scripture reflects its status as an exotic commodity. Translators consistently render it as "cinnamon," preserving the specific botanical reference rather than generalizing it to "spice" or "aromatic."
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Cinnamon appears only three times in the Old Testament, always marking something set apart for special use or deep affection. In Exodus, God commands its inclusion in the holy anointing oil, mixing it with myrrh and calamus to consecrate priests and sacred objects. This rare spice, imported from distant lands, signals that what belongs to God is precious, fragrant, and distinct from the ordinary world.
The Song of Solomon uses cinnamon to describe the beloved’s garden, a place of beauty and intimacy. Here, the scent represents the richness of love and the delight found in close relationship. It reminds us that God values not just ritual, but the warmth and sweetness shared between people who care for one another.
Even in Proverbs, where cinnamon scents a bedchamber meant to entice, the spice highlights how powerful sensory details can be. Whether used for worship or warning, cinnamon points to things of value. It invites us to consider what we hold dear and how we treat the sacred spaces in our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ cinnamon2×
- and/ cinnamon of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/קִנָּמֽוֹן\׃1×
- וְ/קִנָּמ֔וֹן1×
- וְ/קִנְּמָן\־1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 30:23
“Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty;
This verse establishes cinnamon’s role in the holy anointing oil, showing it was reserved for consecrating priests and objects set apart for divine service.
-
Song of Solomon 4:14
spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree; myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices,
Here, cinnamon contributes to the fragrance of the beloved’s garden, symbolizing the richness and delight of intimate, faithful love.
-
Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
The spice perfumes a bedchamber used for seduction, illustrating how even precious things can be misdirected toward harmful ends.