### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term נֵרְדְּ (nêrd, `{{H5373}}`) denotes "nard" or "spikenard." This refers to an aromatic plant, *Nardostachys jatamansi*, native to the high altitudes of the Himalayas, from which a highly prized, fragrant oil was extracted. The base definition "of foreign origin" indicates its status as an imported luxury item in ancient Israel, underscoring its rarity and value. The semantic range of נֵרְדְּ is narrow, specifically identifying this particular aromatic substance, renowned for its strong, distinctive, and sweet fragrance. It was primarily used as a perfume, anointing oil, and sometimes for medicinal purposes.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word נֵרְדְּ (`{{H5373}}`) appears exclusively within the poetic book of Song of Solomon, consistently highlighting themes of beauty, love, and sensory delight.
* In [[Song of Solomon 1:12]], the beloved declares, "While the king was at his table, my nard gave forth its fragrance." Here, the nard symbolizes the beloved's inherent allure and the captivating essence of her presence, which delights the king. It speaks to an intimate and personal fragrance.
* [[Song of Solomon 4:13]] describes the beloved as "an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard." This verse lists nard among a profusion of beautiful and fragrant plants, emphasizing the lushness, purity, and intoxicating aroma of the beloved's metaphorical garden, which represents her person and her virtues.
* Immediately following, [[Song of Solomon 4:14]] continues the enumeration of precious aromatics: "Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices." The repeated mention of nard within this comprehensive list of exquisite spices further underscores its exceptional value and desirability. The context in Song of Solomon consistently associates nard with intense beauty, profound love, and the captivating essence of the beloved, serving as a powerful metaphor for her desirability and the intoxicating nature of their mutual affection.
### Related Words & Concepts
נֵרְדְּ (`{{H5373}}`) is intrinsically linked to a cluster of concepts revolving around precious aromatics, anointing, and expressions of love and luxury in the ancient world.
* **Aromatics and Spices:** It is frequently grouped with other costly and fragrant substances such as בֹּשֶׂם (bosem, `{{H1314}}`, "spice/perfume"), מֹר (mor, `{{H4753}}`, "myrrh"), קְנֵה בֹּשֶׂם (qeneh bosem, `{{H7070}}`, "aromatic cane/calamus"), קִנָּמוֹן (qinnamon, `{{H7076}}`, "cinnamon"), and לְבוֹנָה (levonah, `{{H3828}}`, "frankincense"). These were often associated with sacred rituals, royal anointing, or expressions of wealth and status.
* **Anointing:** While נֵרְדְּ is not explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament for the holy anointing oil, its high value aligns with the sacred use of oils for anointing priests, kings, and guests. The New Testament account of Mary anointing Jesus with "very costly ointment of pure nard" (Greek: `{{G3487}}` *nardos*) in [[Mark 14:3]] and [[John 12:3]] provides a powerful later biblical example of nard's use in an act of profound devotion and sacred anointing.
* **Beauty and Adornment:** Perfumes and fragrant oils were essential elements of personal grooming and enhancing beauty in the ancient Near East. Nard, with its exquisite scent, naturally falls into this category, particularly within the romantic and aesthetic context of Song of Solomon.
* **Love and Intimacy:** In the Song of Solomon, the fragrance of nard serves as a potent metaphor for the beloved's captivating allure and the intoxicating, delightful nature of intimate love.
### Theological Significance
Though found only in the Song of Solomon, the theological significance of נֵרְדְּ (`{{H5373}}`) can be discerned through its consistent portrayal as a highly valued, delightful, and intimate substance.
* **Symbol of Preciousness and Esteem:** The rarity and high cost of nard inherently signify something of immense worth. In the Song of Solomon, this underscores the inestimable value of the beloved in the eyes of her lover, reflecting a divine principle that what is truly cherished is also supremely valuable. It speaks to the preciousness of pure, unadulterated love and affection.
* **Metaphor for Delight and Pleasure in Relationship:** The intoxicating fragrance of nard evokes deep sensory pleasure and satisfaction. This points to the profound joy, delight, and mutual enjoyment found in a pure and intimate relationship, whether between human lovers or, allegorically, between God and His people. The "garden" imagery, rich with nard, symbolizes a place of abundance, beauty, and unhindered communion.
* **Anticipation of Extravagant Devotion:** While the Old Testament uses of נֵרְדְּ focus on human love, the New Testament's powerful portrayal of nard (`{{G3487}}`) being poured out in an act of extravagant worship and preparation for burial ([[Mark 14:3]], [[John 12:3]]) offers a profound theological expansion. This act, though costly, is deemed "beautiful" by Jesus ([[Mark 14:6]]), suggesting that what is most precious can and should be offered in ultimate devotion and sacrifice to the divine. This later development illuminates the inherent potential of such a valuable substance to represent complete surrender and selfless love, a concept that resonates with the intense devotion depicted in the Song of Solomon.
### Summary
The Hebrew word נֵרְדְּ (`{{H5373}}`), transliterated as nard or spikenard, designates a highly valuable and aromatic substance of foreign origin. Its exclusive appearances in the Old Testament are within the Song of Solomon ([[Song of Solomon 1:12]], [[Song of Solomon 4:13]], [[Song of Solomon 4:14]]), where it consistently functions as a potent symbol of preciousness, beauty, and the captivating fragrance associated with the beloved and the intoxicating nature of love. Grouped with other exquisite spices, nard represents the pinnacle of sensory delight and desirability within the context of intimate affection. Theologically, נֵרְדְּ embodies a profound sense of intrinsic worth and delightful presence, foreshadowing the concept of extravagant devotion and sacrificial love, as later exemplified in the New Testament's use of nard (`{{G3487}}`) in the anointing of Jesus. Thus, נֵרְדְּ signifies not merely a pleasant scent, but a cherished essence of immense value and profound relational delight.
TRV