Bible Dictionary
SMELL
Smell refers to scent or fragrance, whether pleasant or offensive. Scripture uses it literally and also figuratively: sacrifices and faithful conduct may be a sweet savor to God, while sinful conduct is hateful; believers may spread the savor of Christ.
Definition
Smell is the perception or quality of scent, whether pleasant or offensive. Scripture uses the term literally for fragrance and figuratively for character, reputation, acceptability, and spiritual influence.
Biblical Usage
Sacrifices and faithful conduct may be a sweet savor well-pleasing to God, while sinful conduct may be hateful to Him. The apostles are described as spreading the savor of the knowledge of Christ, a fragrance associated with life to some and death to others.
Historical Background
Animal skins and plants are among the biblical contexts in which scent is perceived. The expression “bad odor” reflects the biblical idea that a person’s conduct may make his reputation abhorred by others.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>smel (Hebrew and Aramaic reach, as noun, "savor," "scent"; ruach, as verb, literally, "to breathe," "to inhale," thence "to smell"; osme, the "smell," "savor," euodia, "sweet smell" "fragrance" osphresis "the sense of smell"; verb osphrainomai): And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled (way-yarach) the smell (reach) of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell (reach) of my son is as the smell (reach) of a field which Yahweh hath blessed" (Ge 27:27). Idols are described as "gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell" (De 4:28). Acceptable sacrifices and pious conduct are called a "sweet smell" or "savor" (Ex 29:18; Eph 5:2; Php 4:18) well-pleasing to God. The godless life, which dishonors God, is hateful to Him: "I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors" (Le 26:31). The phrase, "being in bad odor with a person," can be traced to Biblical language: "Ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants" (Ex 5:21). Thus "smell" is occasionally equivalent with "quality," "character": "His (Moab's) taste remaineth in him, and his scent is not changed" (Jer 48:11). Character or quality is the most infallible test, the most manifest advertisement of a thing or a person; thus we find the following very instructive passage: "(God) maketh manifest through us the savor (osme) of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet savor (euodia) of Christ unto God, in (better: "among") them that are saved, and in (better: "among") them that perish; to the one a savor (osme) from death unto death; to the other a savor (osme) from life unto life" (2Co 2:14-16). See TRIUMPH. In the passage Isa 3:24, the King James Version "sweet smell" (besem, "balsam plant") has been changed to "sweet spices" in the Revised Version (British and American).</p><p>H. L. E. Luering</p>