(qhaneh-bosm)


(cannabis)

The Hebrew word, qhaneh-bosm (above top) , from Exodus 30:23, normally translates into English as "sweet-smelling, fragrant cane."

You can use it to make anointing oil, or simply give it to God directly, as in Isaiah 43:24

(cannabis) is how the word looks in Greek, when translated correctly. Unfortunately, an ignorant translator called it (calamus) while making the Septuagint (LXX).


Cannabis
Calamus
The King James Version of the Bible continues the mistranslation onward as "sweet calamus."   Most other versions of the Bible translate it correctly as some variant of "sweet-smelling, fragrant cane."

It has long been hailed as a crucial ingredient of chrism, the anointing oil of kings and priests. One would have a hard time anointing anyone properly without it.

cannabis

This is how it looks in Latin, though you may recognize it better by its Americanized name, marijuana.

You may not have considered that this was one of the gifts that God gave Adam, but it was. In the first book of the Bible, in the first chapter, he says:

See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food.
Genesis 1:29

Later, after the flood, Jah reiterates His promise to Noah:

I give them (the animals) all to you as I did the green plants.
Genesis 9:3

While there are many more places in the Bible where cannabis use is directly or indirectly alluded to—notably passages related to King Solomon (reportedly a genuine connoisseur), those are stories for another day.

Moses

God doesn't say much about pot specifically until after the Exodus, but when He does, what He says is a mouthful (the recipe for chrism):

Take the finest spices, five hundred shekels of free-flowing myrrh; half that amount of fragrant cinnamon, and two hundred fifty shekels of cannabis, with five hundred shekels of cassia, all according to the standard of the sanctuary shekel, and blend them together with a hind of olive oil. And blend them into sacred anointing oil, perfumed ointment, expertly prepared.
Exodus 30:22-26

Per the Reverend Tom Brown, that last sentance is important, as 'perfumed' means 'cooked'. His chrism turned out much better as a result.

Jah then instructs Moses to paint the tent in which incense to God was burned with this oil of anointing, and paint most of the contents of the tent as well, and the priests of the Israelites. All must be covered with the chrism.

He even goes so far as to say:

As sacred anointing oil this shall belong to me throughout your generations. It is sacred, and shall be treated as sacred by you.
Exodus 30:31,32

Isaiah

Isaiah writes of God's fondness for marijuana, pointing out that from Jah's point of view, all the Jews seem to do anymore is come to ask for forgiveness--they never just come by anymore simply to worship by lighting up some pot. He feels used.

Remember not the events of the past,
The things of long ago, consider not;
See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches,
For I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink
The people who I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.

Yet you did not call upon me, Oh Jacob
for you grew weary of me, Oh Israel
You did not bring me sheep for your holocausts.
Nor honor me with your sacrifices.
I did not extract from you the service of offerings,
nor weary you for frankincense.
You didn't buy me any marijuana
nor fill me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Instead, you burdened me with your sins,
and wearied me with your crimes.
It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake,
your offenses;
your sins I remember no more.
Isaiah 43:18-25

Jeremiah

Later, when Jah is angered at the Jews, because they 'despised his law,' he tells them that it won't do them any good to bring him marijuana and incense, even if the incense is from Sheba and the pot is imported, too.

Of what use to me incense that comes from Sheba or marijuana from far-off lands? Your holocausts find no favor with me, Your sacrifices please me not.
Jeremiah 6:20

Ezekiel

Apparently, even though it wouldn't do them any good any longer, the Jews were still importing pot, now from Uzal.

Javan exchanged wrought iron, cassia and marijuana for your wares.
Ezekiel 27:19

Saint Timothy Warns Us!

Paul tells Timothy in his first epistle, chapter 4, that in the 'latter times' some will heed deceitful spirits and things taught by demons.

He calls them 'plausible liars' and says they have 'seared consciences'

He warns that they will call for abstinence. They will even attempt to enforce bans on certain foods, and the like, all of which were designed by God for the enjoyment of those who know the truth.

Paul continues:

'Everything God created is good, nothing is to be rejected when it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by God's word and by prayer.'
1 Timothy 4:4-5

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free


Jah Loves Ganja
Jah Loves I
 I Love I

You too, can be part of the work of the Great Herb in its attempt to find its way home to Jah. Come worship with the:

Zen Zion Coptic Orthodox Church

(505)268-5710
zzco.org