Word Study for H4842 (מִרְקַחַת)

mirqachath /meer-kakh'-ath/ Ask about this word

Meaningan aromatic unguent; also an unguent-pot

KJV usageprepared by the apothecaries' art, compound, ointment.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mirqachath — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mirqachath, represented by H4842, describes an ointment or compound specifically prepared by an apothecary's art. It is derived from the root H7543 râqach, which means to perfume or prepare spices. This term appears 3 times in 3 unique verses, highlighting its specialized use in scripture.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H4842 is consistently associated with skillfully prepared aromatic substances for significant purposes. It is first mentioned as a "compound" made after the art of the apothecary, forming the holy anointing oil Exodus 30:25. The term is also used to describe the work of apothecaries who prepared spices and sweet odours for the burial of a king in the city of David 2 Chronicles 16:14. Finally, the making of the ointment is identified as a specific duty carried out by the sons of the priests 1 Chronicles 9:30.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of an apothecary's compound:

H7543 râqach: This is the root verb meaning "to perfume; apothecary, compound, make (ointment), prepare, spice". It describes the action of creating the mirqachath.
H7545 rôqach: Meaning "an aromatic; confection, ointment", this noun is used alongside H4842 to describe the holy confection in Exodus 30:35.
H1314 besem: This word for "spice" or "sweet odour" denotes the raw materials that the priests would make into the final ointment 1 Chronicles 9:30.
H8081 shemen: Meaning oil or ointment, this is a key component in the holy anointing oil, which is described as a mirqachath Exodus 30:25.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4842 lies in its connection to holiness, honor, and priestly service.

Sacred Consecration: The primary use of the mirqachath is in the formula for the "holy anointing oil" Exodus 30:25. This substance was used to consecrate the tabernacle's furnishings and the priests, setting them apart for God's service.
Priestly Craftsmanship: The task of making the ointment was assigned to the sons of the priests, linking the skilled art of the apothecary directly to sacred duties within the sanctuary 1 Chronicles 9:30.
Honor in Death: The preparation of spices by the apothecaries' art for a royal burial signifies great honor and respect, accompanied by a "very great burning" 2 Chronicles 16:14.

Summary

In summary, mirqachath H4842 is more than a simple ointment; it is a specialized compound created through a skilled art. Its limited use in Scripture underscores its importance in contexts of sacred worship, priestly function, and royal honor. The word demonstrates how a physical craft like that of the apothecary was integrated into the most significant spiritual and ceremonial aspects of ancient Israelite life.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מִרְקַחַת
מִרְקַחַת

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

Exodus

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.