The fragrant oil of an Indian plant, Nardostachys jatamansi, which grows with a 'spike.' The Arabic, name sunbul hindi, Indian spike, preserves the same idea. The perfume when pure was very valuable (Joh 12:3).
About the meaning of the Gr. epithet pistik
Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.
Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.)
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