Table 1 Plants used or mentioned explicitly as medicinal in the Bible
Species /English name | Hebrew name /transcription /level of identification reliability | Source of evidence | Botanical status/ Origin/ | Additional uses: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Commiphora giledadensis (L.) C. Chr/ (or C. kataf (Forssk.) Engl. / (also C. opobalsamum (L.) Engl.) Balm of Gilead, Balm of Mecca | צרי Tsori C נטף Nataf B | E: [68:85 (C. myrrah); [69 passim (myrrh), [64:77, 70:63]. B: Jeremiah 8:22, 46:11, 51:8 M: [71:193, 72:89,90, 73:5]. | D / Im/ EAf [73a]. Cultivated in the Holy Land at Biblical times [74]. | In (Exodus 30:31) / O / P |
Ficus carica L.* / Fig | תאנה Te’enah A | E: [64:78, 65: 102-103, 75:28]. B: II Kings 20:7, Isaiah 38:2. BT: Menachot 64a. M: [44:430,437]. | D / In | E |
Mandragora officinarum Mill * / Mandrake | דודאים Duda'eem A | B: Genesis 30: 14- 17. E: [65:118] (possible). M: [71:191, identification not ascertained | In | M / A |
Nardostachys jatamansi DC. / Spikenard | נרד Nerd A | NT: Mark 14:3; John 12:3. | EA [76] / Im | O /P |
Origanum syriacum L. (=Majorana syriaca (L.) Feinbrun) / Syrian Marjoram / Bible Hyssop | אזוב Ezov A | B: Leviticus 14:4, Psalms 51:9. BT: Shabbat 109b, Abodah Zara 29a. | In | R / E |