קִנָּמוֹן
𐤒𐤍𐤌𐤅𐤍
qinnâmôwn
H7076 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fragrant spice obtained from the inner bark of certain trees belonging to the Cinnamonum genus. In the Hebrew Bible, קִנָּמוֹן (qinnâmôn) refers specifically to cinnamon, used as an aromatic ingredient in sacred anointing oil, perfumes, and luxury goods. The term denotes the valuable imported spice, not native to the Levant, and signifies luxury, rarity, and pleasant aroma.
Semantic Range
aromatic bark, cinnamon spice, luxury trade good, ingredient in sacred oil, symbol of fragrance or luxury
Root / Etymology
The root is uncertain. The traditional Strong's connection to a root 'to erect' has no supporting evidence in extant Hebrew. The word is widely recognized as a loanword, likely of foreign origin (possibly from a South or Southeast Asian or other ancient trade language), reflecting the ancient Levant's participation in long-distance trade networks.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קִנָּמוֹן appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Exodus 30:23 in the context of the sacred anointing oil and in Proverbs 7:17 as a symbol of seductive luxury. In both cases, the term clearly refers to imported cinnamon rather than a local plant. The use of the word reflects ancient Israelite familiarity with valuable trade goods. Later translations, including the Septuagint and the Vulgate, rendered the term as 'cinnamon.' English translations follow this rendering; however, evidence suggests that the biblical qinnâmôn originally designated true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum or C. zeylanicum) or possibly Cassia (C. cassia), which were both imported from South and Southeast Asia via complex trade routes. The item was highly prized, signifying luxury or holiness in biblical contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root (meaning to erect); cinnamon bark (as in upright rolls); cinnamon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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קנמון (uncertain) (q-n-m-n (uncertain)) — fragrant spice, cinnamon
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7076-01 |
וְ/קִנָּמֽוֹן | veqinamon | HC/Ncmsa |
and cinnamon | cinnamon | 2 | |
H7076-02 |
וְ/קִנְּמָן | veqineman | HC/Ncmsc |
and cinnamon | cinnamon of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7076-02 |
Exodus 30:23 | וְ/קִנְּמָן | veqineman | HC/Ncmsc |
and cinnamon | cinnamon of | |
H7076-01 |
Proverbs 7:17 | וְ/קִנָּמֽוֹן | veqinamon | HC/Ncmsa |
and cinnamon | cinnamon | |
H7076-01 |
Song of Songs 4:14 | וְ/קִנָּמ֔וֹן | veqinamon | HC/Ncmsa |
and cinnamon | cinnamon |