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MYRRH.—1. môr (Arab [Note: Arabic.] , murr), the dried gum of a species of balsam (Balsamodendron myrrha) growing in Arabia and India. It has a pleasant, though faint, smell (Psa_45:8, Pro_7:17, Son_1:13; Son_3:5). It is still used in medicine (Mar_15:23). It was used in embalming (Joh_19:39). According to Schweinfurth, the myrrh of the OT was a liquid product of the Balsamodendron opobalsamum, known as balsam of Mecca. Exo_30:23 and Son_5:5; Son_5:13, where the ‘myrrh’ appears to have been liquid, support this view. See also Ointment.
2. lôt, tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘myrrh’ in Gen_37:25; Gen_43:11, is a fragrant resin from the Cislus or ‘rock rose,’ a common Palestine shrub. In Arab [Note: Arabic.] , this is called lâdhan (Lat. ladanum, so RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). As a product of Palestine it was a likely substance to send to Egypt.
E. W. G. Masterman