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SPIKENARD (nçrd, Son_1:12; Son_4:13-14; also Gr. nardos pistike, Mar_14:3, Joh_12:3).—The fragrant oil of an Indian plant, Nardostachys jatamansi, which grows with a ‘spike.’ The Arab [Note: Arabic.] , name sunbul hindi, Indian spike, preserves the same idea. The perfume when pure was very valuable (Joh_12:3).
About the meaning of the Gr. epithet pistikç there has been much speulation. See note in RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] at Mar_14:3, and cf. art. ‘Spikenard’ in Hastings’ DCG [Note: CG Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels.] .
E. W. Masterman.