Lexical Definition

‎בֶּשֶׂם‎ besem (beh'-sem) spice ^H:N-M
or בֹּשֶׂם bôsem (bo'-sem); from the same as ‎בָּשָׂם‎

smell, spice, sweet (odour).

• fragrance
• by implication, spicery
• also the balsam plant

1) spice, balsam, balsam tree, perfume
2) (TWOT) sweet, sweet smell, sweet odour

See Greek: ἄρωμα · ἐπιτάσσω · θυμίαμα · μύρον · ὀσμή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎בּ֫שֶֹׂם‎ noun masculine^{1Kgs 10:10} spice, balsam, balsam-tree (Arabic , Aramaic ‎בּוּסְמָא‎, , Greek βάλσαμον; compare Löw⁵³) — ‎׳‎‎ב‎ Isa 3:24 +, ‎בֶּ֫שֶׂם‎ Exod 30:23 see below, ‎בְּשָׂמִי‎ Song 5:1 (as if from ‎בָּשָׂם‎); plural ‎בְּשָׂמִים‎ Exod 25:6 + 18 t., ‎בְּשָׂמָיו‎ Song 4:16 —

1. spice, perfume, sweet odour Isa 3:24 ‎קִנְּמָןבֶּֿשֶׂם‎ Exod 30:23 (‎׳‎‎ב‎ perhaps so pointed to distinguish it from) ‎קְנֵהבֿשֶֹׁם‎ vExod 30:23 — with this compare Aramaic , ‎קני בוסמא‎ — spices as costly, token of wealth 2Kgs 20:13 = Isa 39:9 compare 2Chr 32:27 royal gifts 1Kgs 10:2; 1Kgs 10:10; 1Kgs 10:25 = 2Chr 9:1; 2Chr 9:19; 2Chr 9:24 compare singular 1Kgs 10:10 = 2Chr 9:9 as article of commerce Ezek 27:22 burnt at burial 2Chr 16:14 appointed for ingredient of the anointing oil Exod 25:6; Exod 35:8 compare vExod 35:28 (all P), compare 1Chr 9:30 (Palmyrene see above); stored in temple 1Chr 9:29 used for purifying the women of Ahasuerus Esth 2:12 elsewhere only Song 4:10; Song 4:14 spices, vSong 4:16 balsam-juice, gathered Song 5:1 balsam-tree ‎׳‎‎הָרֵי ב‎ Song 8:14 beds of balsam ‎׳‎‎עֲרֻגוֺת בּ‎ Song 6:2 compare ‎׳‎‎עֲרֻוּגַת בּ‎ Song 5:13 simile of lover's cheeks.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References