Twelve Oils of Ancient Scripture: Myrrh

Historically a highly prized aromatic oil, myrrh has a rich history in the Old and New Testament. Today, Gary Young shares a personal experience using myrrh essential oil.

Myrrh was another highly prized aromatic substance mentioned in the Old and New Testament. According to Proverbs 7:17, King Solomon perfumed his bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. It is fitting that myrrh symbolizes suffering since it is harvested by slicing the tree so the precious resin oozes out and hardens into drops, called tears. Christ was given myrrh at his birth, and along with aloes it was used in preparing his body for burial. Myrrh was also included in the holy anointing oil and was well known to the ancient perfumers. From Esther 2:12 we learn that the candidates from whom King Ahasuerus was to pick his queen were prepared by anointings: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odors.

The Arabian people of antiquity used myrrh for a variety of skin conditions. Myrrh was also used traditionally on the umbilical cord during birth. I had this experience with my own son as I facilitated the delivery with Mary. Immediately upon his delivery, I anointed the umbilical cord with myrrh oil, continuing to put myrrh oil on it multiple times a day. It was the most beautiful experience! There was no question in my mind of the greatness of these oils and the benefits and the blessings that they brought to the newborn king, as well as the countless other children that might have been anointed with these precious oils, as I truly had this experience firsthand.

Next time, join me as I discuss a few lesser known oils of ancient scripture: onycha, spikenard, and rose of Sharon.

Essentially Yours,

Gary Young

Feel free to share! If you copy and paste whole posts to your member blog, please attribute and link back to the original post on dgaryyoung.com.