Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011

Genesis 37:25 "Myrrh of Bible"

Gen. xxxvii 25, Ladanum, the Gk. Xf]5ov. This word is of more doubtful origin. In the Arabic it appears as ladhan and might very well be derived from the root ts6, to be sticky. It has also been derived from the Persian and appears to represent a fragrant and sticky resin gathered from the leaves of the Cistus Creticus SchrofT (J. A. O. S. Oct. 1920) calls it the Rock rose, Cistus villosus. The Semitic derivation of the name is favored by the fact that the Cistus is produced in Canaan, at least in the region of Gilead.

Three Kings (Three Magos)

The Magi are popularly referred to as wise men and kings. The word Magi is a Latinization of the plural of the Greek word magos (μαγος pl. μαγοι), itself from Old Persian maguŝ from the Avestan magâunô, i.e. the religious caste into which Zoroaster was born, (see Yasna 33.7:' ýâ sruyê parê magâunô ' = ' so I can be heard beyond Magi '). The term refers to the priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. As part of their religion, these priests paid particular attention to the stars, and gained an international reputation for astrology, which was at that time highly regarded as a science. Their religious practices and use of astrology caused derivatives of the term Magi to be applied to the occult in general and led to the English term magic. Translated in the King James Version as wise men, the same translation is applied to the wise men led by Daniel of earlier Hebrew Scriptures (Daniel 2:48).

Names

Melchior (Melichior, Melchyor)

Caspar or Gaspar (and several other Greek or Latin variants such as Gathaspa, Jaspar, Jaspas, etc.).

Balthasar (Bithisarea, Balthassar).

by wikipeia the free encyclopidia 

Christmas...............

"The Adoration of the Magi" El Creco Dominikos Theotokopulos(He comes from area of labdanum).

Myrrh is mentioned in the Bible (Psalm 45:8; Song of Solomon 4:14) and is believed to have been a mixture of myrrh and the oleoresin labdanum. One of the three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:11) was myrrh. Myrrh gum resin was also used as a stimulant tonic and is even used today as an antiseptic in mouthwashes as well as to treat sore gums and teeth.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Perfume of Christmas : A Christmas Carol (2009)

Critic in site
http://www.filmcritic.com

Christmas in London : Actor Carrey switches on lights

Christmas 2009

London's Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights have been switched on at precisely the same time.

Read more..... BBC

Christmas in London

Christmas Gift.

Myrrh is mentioned in the Bible (Psalm 45:8; Song of Solomon 4:14) and is believed to have been a mixture of myrrh and the oleoresin labdanum. One of the three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:11) was myrrh. Myrrh gum resin was also used as a stimulant tonic and is even used today as an antiseptic in mouthwashes as well as to treat sore gums and teeth.

What does myrrh mean?

MYRRH DEFINITIONS - 9 definitions found

Websters 1828 Dictionary

Myrrh MYRRH, n. mer. [L. myrrha.] A gum-resin that comes in the form of drops or globules of various colors and sizes, of a pretty strong but agreeable smell, and of a bitter taste. It is imported from Egypt, but chiefly from the southern or eastern parts of Arabia; from what species of tree or plant it is procured, is unknown. As a medicine, it is a good stomachic, antispasmodic and cordial.

WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005)

myrrh n 1: aromatic resin that is burned as incense and used in perfume [syn: myrrh, gum myrrh, sweet cicely]


English Etymology Dictionary
myrrh O.E. myrre, from L. myrrha, from Gk. myrrha, from a Sem. source (cf. Akkadian murru "myrrh," Heb. mor, Ar. murr).

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003)

myrrh noun Etymology: Middle English myrre, from Old English, from Latin myrrha, from Greek, of Semitic origin; akin to Arabic murr myrrh Date: before 12th century a yellowish-brown to reddish-brown aromatic gum resin with a bitter slightly pungent taste obtained from a tree (especially Commiphora abyssinica of the family Burseraceae) of eastern Africa and Arabia; also a mixture of myrrh and labdanum

Oxford English Reference Dictionary

myrrh
1.
n. a gum resin from several trees of the genus Commiphora used, esp. in the Near East, in perfumery, medicine, incense, etc.
Derivatives:
myrrhic adj. myrrhy adj.
Etymology: OE myrra, myrre f. L myrr(h)a f. Gk murra, of Semitic orig.
2.
n. = sweet cicely.
Etymology: L myrris f. Gk murris

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Myrrh \Myrrh\, n. [OE. mirre, OF. mirre, F. myrrhe, L. myrrha, murra, Gr. ?; cf. Ar. murr bitter, also myrrh, Heb. mar bitter.] A gum resin, usually of a yellowish brown or amber color, of an aromatic odor, and a bitter, slightly pungent taste. It is valued for its odor and for its medicinal properties. It exudes from the bark of a shrub of Abyssinia and Arabia, the Balsamodendron Myrrha. The myrrh of the Bible is supposed to have been partly the gum above named, and partly the exudation of species of Cistus, or rockrose. False myrrh. See the Note under Bdellium.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MYRRH mur: (1) (mor or mowr; Arabic murr]): This substance is mentioned as valuable for its perfume (Ps 45:8; Pr 7:17; So 3:6; 4:14), and as one of the constituents of the holy incense (Ex 30:23; see also So 4:6; 5:1,5,13). Mor is generally identified with the "myrrh" of commerce, the dried gum of a species of balsam (Balsamodendron myrrha). This is a stunted tree growing in Arabia, having a light-gray bark; the gum resin exudes in small tear-like drops which dry to a rich brown or reddish-yellow, brittle substance, with a faint though agreeable smell and a warm, bitter taste. It is still used as medicine (Mr 15:23). On account, however, of the references to "flowing myrrh" (Ex 30:23) and "liquid myrrh" (So 5:5,13), Schweinfurth maintains that mor was not a dried gum but the liquid balsam of Balsamodendron opobalsamum. See BALSAM. Whichever view is correct, it is probable that the smurna, of the New Testament was the same. In Mt 2:11 it is brought by the "Wise men" of the East as an offering to the infant Saviour; in Mr 15:23 it is offered mingled with wine as an anesthetic to the suffering Redeemer, and in Joh 19:39 a "mixture of myrrh and aloes" is brought by Nicodemus to embalm the sacred body. (2) (loT, stakte; translated "myrrh" in Ge 37:25, margin "ladanum"; 43:11): The fragrant resin obtained from some species of cistus and called in Arabic ladham, in Latin ladanum. The cistus or "rock rose" is exceedingly common all over the mountains of Palestine (see BOTANY), the usual varieties being the C. villosus with pink petals, and the C. salviaefolius with white petals. No commerce is done now in Palestine in this substance as of old (Ge 37:25; 43:11), but it is still gathered from various species of cistus, especially C. creticus in the Greek Isles, where it is collected by threshing the plants by a kind of flail from which the sticky mass is scraped off with a knife and rolled into small black balls. In Cyprus at the present time the gum is collected from the beards of the goats that browse on these shrubs, as was done in the days of Herodotus iii.112). E. W. G. Masterman

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Myrrh Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Ex. 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:11). It was used in embalming (John 19:39), also as a perfume (Esther 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17). It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion "wine mingled with myrrh" to produce insensibility. This drugged wine was probably partaken of by the two malefactors, but when the Roman soldiers pressed it upon Jesus "he received it not" (Mark 15:23). (See GALL.) This was the gum or viscid white liquid which flows from a tree resembling the acacia, found in Africa and Arabia, the Balsamodendron myrrha of botanists. The "bundle of myrrh" in Cant. 1:13 is rather a "bag" of myrrh or a scent-bag. (2.) Another word _lot_ is also translated "myrrh" (Gen. 37:25; 43:11; R.V., marg., "or ladanum"). What was meant by this word is uncertain. It has been thought to be the chestnut, mastich, stacte, balsam, turpentine, pistachio nut, or the lotus. It is probably correctly rendered by the Latin word ladanum, the Arabic ladan, an aromatic juice of a shrub called the Cistus or rock rose, which has the same qualities, though in a slight degree, of opium, whence a decoction of opium is called laudanum. This plant was indigenous to Syria and Arabia.

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
29 Moby Thesaurus words for "myrrh": ambergris, ambrosia, aromatic, aromatic gum, aromatic water, attar, attar of roses, balm, balm of Gilead, balsam, bay oil, bergamot oil, champaca oil, civet, essence, essential oil, extract, fixative, heliotrope, jasmine oil, lavender oil, musk, myrcia oil, parfum, perfume, perfumery, rose oil, scent, volatile oil

Epiphany

Three kings: Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar


The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." In many Western churches, it celebrates the arrival of the wise men bringing gifts to the Christ child at the manger in Bethlehem. Actually, though, the Bible says they arrived at "the house". In terms of time sequence, it may actually have been as much as three years after Jesus' birth. In any case, in coming to honor Jesus, they "revealed" Jesus to the world as Lord and King.

Epiphany goes by other names in various church traditions. In Hispanic and Latin culture, as well as some places in Europe, it is known as Three Kings’ Day (Spanish: el Dia de los Tres Reyes, la Fiesta de Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch: Driekoningendag). In the Eastern churches it is known as the Theophany. The Catholic Encyclopedia mentions that Jesus' birth, the visit of the Magi, and his baptism were once all celebrated on January 6th.

The gifts

The tradition of giving Christmas gifts stems from the Wise Men (Magi). Their gifts to Jesus were quite costly... gold, incense (frankincense), and myrrh. Bringing gifts was very important in the ancient East when visiting a superior. The gifts of the wise men foreshadowed the reality of Jesus.

* Gold was a gift fit for a King.

* Frankincense is a glittering resin obtained from several trees. It has a wonderful smell when burnt, so it was used in worship at the Temple.

* Myrrh was a sweet-smelling spice, probably the aromatic gum exuded from the leaves of the cistus rose. Its oil was used in beauty treatments, and it was sometimes mixed with wine and drunk to relieve pain. And it had one other use - a perfume used in embalming. It was used in preparing Jesus' body for burial. Both frankincense and myrrh are still expensive today.

The Wise Men may have also brought myrrh for the baby Jesus for another reason -- it was used as a salve for skin irritations. Babies often get skin rashes (we'd call it "diaper rash".)