I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
perfumed
Song of Solomon 3:6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
Isaiah 57:7-9 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice…
with
Psalm 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
Song of Solomon 4:13,14 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, …
with myrrh
Myrrh is a resin used in ancient times for its fragrance and medicinal properties. It was one of the gifts brought by the Magi to Jesus (Matthew 2:11), symbolizing His future suffering and death, as myrrh was also used in embalming. In the context of Proverbs 7, myrrh's use underscores the woman's attempt to create an enticing environment. Myrrh's association with burial and sacrifice contrasts with the temporary pleasure she offers, hinting at the spiritual death that follows sin.
with aloes
Aloes, derived from the aloe plant, were used in ancient perfumery and embalming. In John 19:39, Nicodemus brings a mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' body for burial, symbolizing honor and respect. Here, the use of aloes in perfuming the bed is part of the seduction, offering a false sense of honor and allure. The contrast between its use in honoring Christ and in this context of seduction highlights the misuse of what is valuable and sacred.
and with cinnamon
Cinnamon was a highly prized spice in the ancient world, used for its fragrance and flavor. It was part of the holy anointing oil described in Exodus 30:23, signifying its sacred use in worship and consecration. In Proverbs 7, cinnamon's inclusion in the perfuming of the bed further illustrates the woman's attempt to create an irresistible allure. The misuse of a spice associated with holiness and worship for seduction underscores the perversion of sacred things for sinful purposes. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the corruption of what God has made good.
- In the narrative (Proverbs 7:6-23), the seductress prepares the setting before stepping out to meet the young man. Her “bed” is the very place where she intends to ensnare him, turning what should be a place of rest into a trap (Proverbs 7:27).
- The deliberate act of perfuming shows premeditation; sin is rarely accidental. Compare Proverbs 5:3-4, where the “lips of an immoral woman drip honey, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood.”
- By appealing first to the senses of smell and sight—Proverbs 7:16 mentions “colored linens from Egypt”—she seeks to dull moral alertness before the act itself (cf. 1 John 2:16).
- Myrrh is costly and aromatic, used in royal weddings (Psalm 45:8) and expressions of love (Songs 4:6,14). It can give the illusion of genuine affection.
- It is also connected to worship (Matthew 2:11) and burial (John 19:39), reminding us that what appears attractive can mask deadly consequences—“her house sinks down to death” (Proverbs 7:27).
- The seductress hijacks something precious to cloak corruption, echoing Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good.”
- Aloes impart a deep, lingering fragrance (Psalm 45:8), symbolizing luxury and long-lasting pleasure.
- Yet John 19:39 pairs aloes with burial. The irony is clear: while promising life-giving delight, the invitation leads to spiritual death. Proverbs 7:22-23 describes the victim “going like an ox to the slaughter.”
- Sin often offers what seems enduring, but “in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).
- Cinnamon was part of the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:23-25), an aroma associated with worship and consecration. Here it is misused, highlighting how sacred things can be twisted.
- It was also a prized trade item (Revelation 18:13), conveying wealth and excess. The woman flaunts opulence to convince her prey that indulging with her is harmless fun (Proverbs 7:18).
- The contrast is stark: that which adorned God’s tabernacle now seduces toward sin, illustrating Romans 1:25—people “exchanged the truth of God for a lie.”
Proverbs 7:17 paints a vivid picture of calculated temptation. Each spice—myrrh, aloes, cinnamon—appeals to the senses, hinting at love, luxury, and even the sacred, yet all are co-opted to disguise sin’s true outcome: destruction. The verse warns us to look past alluring surfaces and remember that God’s design for purity and faithfulness is always for our good, while any counterfeit, no matter how sweet-smelling, leads only to death.
Verse 17. - I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. The substances mentioned were dissolved in or mixed with water, and then sprinkled on the couch. The love of such things is reckoned as a sign of luxury and vice (Isaiah 3:20, etc.). The three perfumes are mentioned together in Song of Solomon 4:14; "myrrh, aloes, and cassia," in Psalm 45:8. Septuagint, "I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon." Myrrh is nowadays imported chiefly from Bombay, but it seems to be found in Arabia and on the coasts of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. It is a gummy substance exuding from the bark of the balsamodendron when wounded, and possessing an aromatic odour not particularly agreeable to modern tastes. It was one of the ingredients of the holy oil (Exodus 30:28), and was used in the purification of women (Esther 2:12), as well as in perfuming persons and things, and, mixed with aloes, in embalming dead bodies (John 19:39). Aloes is the inspissated juice of the leaves of the aloe, a leguminous plant growing in India, Cochin China, Abyssinia, and Socotra. The ancients used the dried root for aromatic purposes. It is mentioned by Balaam (Numbers 24:6). Cinnamon, which is the same word in Hebrew and Greek, is the fragrant bark of a tree growing in Ceylon and India and the east coast of Africa.