Smell

An aroma; God is pleased by the aroma of sacrifice, whether a literal sacrifice or the figurative offering of Christian service is a picture of its acceptability to him. Bad smells can indicate physical decay or the results of judgment. To be a stench to someone is to be held in contempt or hated by that person.

The aroma of sacrifice

Genesis 8:21 See also Leviticus 1:9, Leviticus 2:2, Leviticus 3:5, Leviticus 4:31, Leviticus 6:15, Leviticus 6:21, Leviticus 8:21, Leviticus 23:13, Leviticus 23:18; Numbers 15:14, Numbers 15:24 offerings to be made for unintentional breaking of the LORD's commandments; Numbers 18:17, Numbers 28:2, Numbers 29:2

When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

Substances to create a pleasing smell

Exodus 30:7–8 See also Exodus 30:22–29, Exodus 30:34–38, Exodus 35:28, Exodus 37:29, Exodus 40:26–27; Numbers 4:16; 2 Chronicles 2:4, 2 Chronicles 13:11

And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps. When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.

The aroma of sacrifice is not always pleasing to God

Leviticus 26:31; Ezekiel 8:11–13, Ezekiel 20:27–29

Jesus Christ was the supreme fragrant offering

Ephesians 5:2

and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

God accepts his people as fragrant incense

Ezekiel 20:41 See also Hosea 14:5–6

When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

A pleasing aroma depicts acceptable Christian service

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 See also Philippians 4:18

But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an odor that brings death, to the other a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?

Fragrance associated with the expression of love

Song of Solomon 1:2–3, Song of Solomon 4:16–5:1 The beloved's garden is an image of her body. See also Psalm 45:8; Song of Solomon 1:12–13, Song of Solomon 3:6, Song of Solomon 4:10–11, Song of Solomon 5:13, Song of Solomon 7:8John 12:3

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine. The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.

Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

A bad smell

Indicating decay

John 11:39 See also Exodus 16:20 Manna soon smelled bad if kept. This meant the Israelites had to trust God afresh for each day's supply.

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”

As the result of God's judgment

The first plague on Egypt, which made the Nile smell bad: Exodus 7:18, Exodus 7:21; Isaiah 34:3; Amos 4:10

As a picture of the results of judgment

Isaiah 3:24, Isaiah 19:6; Joel 2:20

As a figurative cause of contempt or hatred

Genesis 34:30; Exodus 5:21; 1 Samuel 13:4; 2 Samuel 10:6 parallel 1 Chronicles 19:6; 2 Samuel 16:21

Idols cannot smell

Psalm 115:4–6 See also Deuteronomy 4:28

Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell;