"smell, odor; fragrant odor, Jn. 12:3; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18; met. 2 Cor. 2:14, 16*"
Definition and meaning
smell, odor; fragrant odor, Jn. 12:3; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18; met. 2 Cor. 2:14, 16*
In the original Greek the word is written: ὀσμή
Historical context
John wrote for an audience familiar with both Jewish Scripture and Greek philosophy. The logos — the Word — was a term Greek philosophers used for the rational principle underlying the universe. John takes that concept and says: that logos became a person and lived among us. Crucifixion was the Roman execution method designed to maximize public humiliation, reserved for slaves and rebels.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of osme (G3744) across the King James Bible.
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
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Common questions
Strong's G3744 (osme) is a Greek word that means: smell, odor; fragrant odor, Jn. 12:3; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18; met. 2 Cor. 2:14, 16* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word osme (G3744) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3744 is osme, a Greek word defined as: smell, odor; fragrant odor, Jn. 12:3; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18; met. 2 Cor. 2:14, 16*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
osme is a Greek word found in the New Testament.