[del-ee-uh
m, -yuhm] 
| 1. | a fragrant gum resin obtained from certain burseraceous plants, as of the genus Commiphora. |
| 2. | a plant yielding this resin. |
| 3. | a substance mentioned in the Bible. Gen. 2:12; Num. 11:7. |
| bdel·li·um (děl'ē-əm) n. An aromatic gum resin similar to myrrh, produced by certain Asian and African shrubs or trees of the genus Commiphora. [Middle English, from Latin, from Greek bdellion, variant of bdolkhon, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian budulḫu.] |
Bdellium
occurs only in Gen. 2:12, where it designates a product of the land of Havilah; and in Num. 11:7, where the manna is likened to it in colour. It was probably an aromatic gum like balsam which exuded from a particular tree (Borassus flabelliformis) still found in Arabia, Media, and India. It bears a resemblance in colour to myrrh. Others think the word denotes "pearls," or some precious stone.
