The phrase “balm of Gilead” is used three times in the Bible, all in the Old Testament. It is an expression that has come to signify something with healing or soothing powers. The actual balm of Gilead was made from the resin of a tree that grew in Gilead, a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Let’s explore the biblical mentions of balm of Gilead and what meaning can be drawn from them.
Jeremiah’s Questions
The first reference to balm of Gilead is in Jeremiah chapter 8 verse 22, where the prophet asks rhetorically, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?” (ESV). Jeremiah was lamenting the spiritual state of Israel, which at that time had turned away from God. Even though Gilead was known for producing a healing balm, Jeremiah declared that his people’s true illness was spiritual, beyond the power of any physical medicine to cure.
Jeremiah’s point was that because of their sin, God had withdrawn His protection and provision from His people. If they failed to repent, no earthly balm would restore their health and well-being. What they needed was to turn back to God and seek His spiritual healing and forgiveness. So in this passage, “balm of Gilead” represents the ineffectiveness of trusting in earthly remedies rather than repenting and returning to God.
Jeremiah’s Prophecy
The second reference is Jeremiah 46:11, where the prophet pronounces judgment on Egypt: “Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.” Again, though Gilead was famed for its healing balm, Jeremiah declared that Egypt would find no cure, no restoration for the judgment God was about to bring. When God decrees judgment, no earthly medicine can thwart His will.
Some see in this verse a reference to an ancient Egyptian practice of importing balm of Gilead to use in embalming dead bodies. Jeremiah prophesied that all of Egypt’s efforts to preserve their life and strength would be in vain. His point remains: when God decides to judge a nation, no human remedies will prevail against His sovereign will.
The Merchant’s Merchandise
The final mention of balm of Gilead is in Genesis 37:25, where a caravan of Ishmaelites is described carrying spices, balm and myrrh to Egypt. The balm mentioned here is literal, an important trade item harvested from the balsam trees in Gilead and highly prized across the ancient Middle East as a fragrant ointment with healing properties.
In this account of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers, the balm of Gilead is simply part of the merchandise, with no deeper spiritual meaning. It depicts the balm as a valuable commodity and suggests a main reason why the balm was so coveted – its medicinal value as a salve or ointment.
Deeper Symbolic Meaning
So in summary, the biblical references indicate that balm of Gilead
- Had substantial value as a medicinal ointment
- Was cultivated commercially in the region of Gilead
- Though prized for its healing effects, was powerless to remedy spiritual apostasy
- When used symbolically, represents ineffective trusts in earthly solutions rather than God
The balm’s impotence against spiritual malaise, as highlighted by Jeremiah, points to a deeper symbolic significance. More than just a physical salve, the balm of Gilead came to signify God’s power to spiritually heal, restore and forgive.
A Spiritual Symbol
As a spiritual metaphor, balm of Gilead suggests:
- God has the power to heal the deepest hurts and meet the most desperate needs of the human soul.
- Worldly remedies and resources cannot heal spiritual wounds or reconcile us to God – only He can.
- Just as the balm of Gilead was a costly, treasured ointment, so God’s forgiveness cost Him much yet is a priceless gift.
- The balm was a gift of life and healing flowing from Gilead; God’s spiritual balm is a gift of eternal life flowing from Jesus Christ.
So in summary, the “balm of Gilead” represents God’s divine power to spiritually heal, restore and renew. Just as Gilead’s balm healed skin wounds, God desires to heal wounded souls, binding up broken hearts and delivering people from sin and death. Trusting in His spiritual balm that brings eternal redemption is presented as far better than relying only on inadequate human remedies.
A Poetic Phrase
Because of these poetic biblical associations, “balm of Gilead” became a popular phrase in hymns, spiritual songs and literary works. Though not always sticking closely to scriptural interpretation, these creative usages reinforce the balm’s symbolic connotations of healing, restoration, comfort and hope.
For example, in an 18th century hymn, Christians sing of Jesus as the “balm of Gilead” who can “heal the sin-sick soul.” An African American spiritual asks, “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”
So beyond its literal uses in the Bible, the balm of Gilead became a vivid poetic symbol of God’s power to heal both body and soul – an emphasis inspired by, but expanding on, the passages in Jeremiah. When we read of Jesus as the compassionate Physician, or the Good Samaritan binding up the wounded traveler’s cuts and bruises, balm of Gilead imagery enriches the power of those grace-filled accounts.
A Desert Shrub
Having discussed the symbolic meanings, what do we know about the actual balm of Gilead itself, the substance producing such rich poetic and spiritual associations? As mentioned, it was derived from the gum resin of certain shrublike trees that grew in the region of Gilead, east of the Jordan.
Botanists believe the true identity of these trees is either one of two species:
- Commiphora gileadensis – also known as the balsam tree and sometimes translated “terebinth”
- Commiphora opobalsamum – known as the Mecca balsam
These small, thorny trees produced a gum resin with a pleasant aroma and healing properties. The balm was extracted by making cuts and grooves in the bark, allowing the sap to exude out and harden into droplets called “tears of balm.” These tears were scraped off and either powdered or used to make ointments and oils for medicinal purposes.
In addition to its use as a salve or perfume, the balm was thought to have preservative qualities. Hence its appeal for use in embalming among the ancient Egyptians and others obsessed with securing immortality.
But clearly the true balm of Gilead could not arrest the inevitable march of death and decay. As Jeremiah declared, the healing God offered was something much deeper and eternal.
A Scarce Commodity
Once highly prized, over-harvesting reduced the trees growing wild in Gilead. Supply was surpassed by demand. By the time of the Roman empire, Pliny the Elder lamented the balm of Gilead as a disappearing treasure, “now scarce everywhere.”
Efforts were made to cultivate farmed groves of the trees elsewhere. But soil and climate differences impacted quality. With less trees yielding less gum, the once abundant balm became progressively more scarce. By the Middle Ages, it was essentially a lost treasure.
This scarcity only enhanced the balm’s mystery and allure. Like other rare commodities, its rarity made it more precious in many eyes. This likely contributed to the rich symbolism its name evoked – something highly valuable, prized for its healing effects, signifying God’s ability to cure spiritual brokenness.
Modern Propagation Efforts
In modern times, botanical propagation efforts have successfully grown balsam trees from seeds and cuttings, regrowing a plant identical to what once grew wild in Gilead. Extracts from the resin produce essential oils still used in perfumes and for aromatherapy healing today.
But perhaps more importantly, the words “balm of Gilead” live on in hymns, literature and everyday speech. Though the actual trees are long gone from ancient Gilead, the biblical symbolism of spiritual healing and restoration continues to resonate.
For Christians, “balm of Gilead” remains a poetic expression for God’s compassion. Just as the costly, aromatic resin brought physical healing in the ancient world, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross brings the healing medicine of God’s forgiveness to the human soul.
A Spiritual Application
What lessons can Christians today draw from balm of Gilead imagery? Here are some suggestions:
- Human suffering has both physical and spiritual dimensions. Healing that focuses only on the body will always fall short.
- Worldly solutions can mask symptoms but cannot resolve the root problems of sin and separation from God.
- All the money and medicine on earth cannot buy eternal life. Only Jesus Christ’s sacrifice reconciles us to God.
- If you feel far from God because of sin, come to Him for cleansing and rejuvenation. Seek the true balm found only in Christ.
- When ministering to hurting people, remember that physical healing may meet temporary needs, but spiritual reconciliation has eternal impact.
Like Jeremiah, we live in a time of spiritual sickness and confusion. What our world needs is not just soothing ointments but radical repentance. May the prayer of our hearts be, “Lord, help us find in You the true balm of Gilead.”
