Names people search for
Frankincense (olibanum, Boswellia), myrrh (Commiphora), biblical incense, and holy anointing oil searches belong here. Related cannabis and kaneh bosm questions are on the cannabis page.
The church’s frame
The church invites “cannabis scripture study” and teaches sacred holy herbs by sacrament.1 Frankincense and myrrh sit in that biblical and archaeological conversation as resins of worship — not as products this website sells or prepares.
In Scripture
Exodus 30 commands a holy anointing oil of myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, olive oil and qeneh bosem (“sweet calamus” in the KJV).3 Frankincense appears throughout the Torah as temple incense; myrrh appears again among the gifts of the Magi. See Sacred plants in Scripture.
Tel Arad
At Tel Arad in the Negev, a 2020 study found cannabis residue on one limestone altar of an eighth-century BCE Judahite shrine and frankincense on the other.2 Full detail is on the cannabis and anointing oil page.
Questions and answers
What is frankincense?
Frankincense (olibanum) is a resin from Boswellia trees, burned as incense in ancient Near Eastern temples and still used in Christian liturgy.
What is myrrh?
Myrrh is a resin from Commiphora trees. It appears in the holy anointing oil of Exodus 30 and in the gifts of the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew.
How do frankincense and cannabis connect at Tel Arad?
A 2020 study of an eighth-century BCE Judahite shrine at Tel Arad found cannabis residue on one limestone altar and frankincense on the other.
Sources
- Cannabis, Kaneh Bosm and Holy Anointing Oil — The Church of the Only Begotten Son
- Arie, Rosen & Namdar, “Cannabis and Frankincense at the Judahite Shrine of Arad”, Tel Aviv 47:1 (2020) 5–28
- Exodus 30:22–33, the holy anointing oil (KJV) — Bible Gateway
- Sacred plants in Scripture — The Church of the Only Begotten Son
- Official Lawful Notice — The Church of the Only Begotten Son
Scholarly claims about sacred plants in history are summarized with their sources, and contested claims are marked as contested. The church’s own beliefs are quoted exactly and linked to the page where they appear.