Named "bitter" in the language of its homeland — myrrh was worth its weight in gold and given to kings, despite its harsh taste.
A fragrant gum resin obtained from certain trees, used in perfumery, medicine, and incense since antiquity.
From Old English myrre, from Latin myrrha, from Greek mýrrha, from a Semitic source akin to Hebrew mōr and Arabic murr meaning bitter Key roots: murr (Semitic (Arabic/Hebrew): "bitter").
Myrrh was literally worth its weight in gold in the ancient world — and one of the three gifts brought to the infant Jesus, alongside gold and frankincense. Its name means "bitter" in Semitic languages, a fitting name for a resin that tastes harsh but was considered the most precious aromatic substance of antiquity.