An aromatic gum or spice used for healing wounds (Gen. 43: 11; Jer. 8: 22; Jer. 46: 11; Jer. 51: 8). A bush producing the resin from which the balm was made grew so plentifully in Gilead in O.T. times that the balm came to known as the "balm of Gilead," and was exported to Tyre and Egypt (Gen. 37: 25; Ezek. 27: 17).