Spikenard is an aromatic hardy herb, from which a much valued, precious and costly perfume and fragrant anointing oil is produced. It has intense, warm, fragrant and musky notes.
Spikenard speaks of the Bride’s extravagant and intimate adoration for her bridegroom. It is with total abandonment, without regard to cost that she brings her fragrant worship to the feet of her Lord Jesus.
Spikenard is sometimes called “The Fragrance of the bride”, for it symbolizes the bride who has made herself ready. “While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance.” Song of Solomon 1:12
In the Gospels, it becomes a symbol of revelation during one of Scripture’s most poignant, bittersweet scenes where Mary of Bethany anoints the head and feet of Jesus. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3
Spikenard speaks of intimacy and extravagant worship.