Bible Dictionaries
Balm

Holman Bible Dictionary

Aromatic resin or gum widely used in the ancient Near East for cosmetic and medical purposes. Egyptians used them for embalming. Despite the widespread usage, balm is difficult to identify. Ancient writers refer to balm by a variety of names, which adds to the difficulty of identification. Most ancient references seem to be to the resin from Balsamodendron opobalsamum or balm of Gilead. At times the reference seems to be to Balanites aegyptiaca Delile—a small shrub that still grows in North Africa and exudes a sticky resin used for medicinal purposes ( Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11; Jeremiah 51:8 ). In another place the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus ) seems to be referred to ( Genesis 43:11 ). A yellow aromatic resin was extracted from the mastic tree by cutting the branches.