. 2019 Nov 27;15:57. doi: 10.1186/s13002-019-0338-8

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

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

נטף

Nataf

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

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

Mandragora

officinarum

Mill * /

Mandrake

דודאים

Duda'eem

B: Genesis 30: 14-

17.

E: [65:118]

(possible).

M: [71:191,

identification not ascertained

M / A

Nardostachys

jatamansi DC. /

Spikenard

נרד

Nerd

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

B: Leviticus 14:4,

Psalms 51:9.

BT: Shabbat

109b, Abodah

Zara 29a.

R / E

Botanical status: In: Indigenous; Im: Imported; D: Domesticated/cultivated. If there is no specific reference, we followed [143].

Origin: A: Arabia; CEA: Central East Asia; E: Europe; EAR: East Arabia; EA: East Asia; EAf: East Africa; M: Mediterranean; EM: East Mediterranean; NE: Near East; SEA: Southeast Asia; SEE: Southeast Europe; SWA: Southwest Asia. If there is no specific reference, we followed [143].

Additional uses: Ap: Apotropaic; E: Edible; F: Fibre; I: Incense; M: Magic; P: Perfume/cosmetics; O: Ointment; Oi: Oil; R: Ritual; S: Spice, condiment; Re: Resin; T: Timber; W: Wine

*Included in Jacob’s [2] list (see text). The categories of the reliability levels of the Biblical plants’ identification are according to Amar [8]. See above