An aromatic gum or spice used for healing wounds (Gen. 43: 11; Jer. 8: 22; 46: 11; 51: 8). A bush producing the resin from which the balm was made grew so plentifully in Gilead in Old Testament times that the balm came to be known as the “balm of Gilead” (Gen. 37: 25; Ezek. 27: 17).